Development of relatively selective, chemically and mechanically robust solid-phase microextraction fibers based on methacrylic acid–trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate co-polymers

A versatile, relatively selective, chemically and mechanically robust solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber based on methacrylic acid–trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate (MAA/TRIM) co-polymers was developed in a simple way and directly coupled with gas chromatography. Thus, using a glass capillary as a “mold”, MAA/TRIM co-polymers were immobilized on a stainless steel wire base as a novel coating for SPME. The extraction performance of the MAA/TRIM-coated fiber was evaluated in detail using four triazines as model compounds, and several typical and important species of chemical compounds including opioids, xanthic alkaloids and phenoxyacetic acid herbicides were selected as additional examples to further illustrate the extraction mechanism and applicability of the fiber. The fiber showed high extraction efficiency for highly functionalized molecules (typically containing multiple amino, hydroxy, carbonyl and carboxy groups) via a hydrogen-bonding extraction mechanism. The maximum extraction ability and selectivity of the fiber could be obtained only in non-polar (aprotic) organic solvents, which are effective for the hydrogen-bonding interaction. The inherent chemical stability of MAA/TRIM co-polymers and the mechanical strength of the stainless steel wire as the fiber support made the MAA/TRIM-coated fiber highly durable in practical use.