Using a novel sol–gel stir bar sorptive extraction method for the analysis of steroid hormones in water by laser diode thermal desorption/atmospheric chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A new coating material was used for a stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) method coupled to a high throughput sample analysis technique. This allowed for a simple procedure for fast determinations of eight steroid hormones (estriol, estradiol, ethynylestradiol, estrone, progesterone, medroxyprogesterone, levonorgestrel, northindrone) in water. Sample pre-treatment was performed using an in-house SBSE method based on a polydimethylsiloxane/phenyltrimethylsiloxane/β-cyclodextrin sol–gel material. The analytes were desorbed by liquid extraction prior to their analysis by laser diode thermal desorption/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LDTD–APCI–MS/MS). Several parameters, including ionic strength, volume and time of extraction as well as volume and time of desorption, were investigated to maximize extraction efficiency by SBSE in aqueous solutions. The in-house stir bar showed good reproducibility and could be used for at least 50 extractions without affecting analytical performance. The recoveries of the spiked steroid hormones ranged from 55% to 96% in all water matrices studied (HPLC grade water, tap water and raw wastewater). Only one compound showed poor recovery values (<2% for estriol) in all matrices. The method detection limits (MDLs) in real matrices were within the range of 0.1–0.3 μg L−1 except for estriol at 48 μg L−1. The extraction performance of the in-house SBSE for the eight selected hormones was also compared with that of a commercially-available stir bar coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This novel stir bar coating could prove to be useful method for the detection and quantification of trace levels of steroid hormones.