Application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by HPLC-MS/MS for the trace determination of clotrimazole in environmental water samples

Abstract

A method for the analysis of clotrimazole was developed with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for sample pre-concentration and HPLC-MS/MS for analysis. A linear ion trap was used for the confirmation of clotrimazole identity in the samples. The developed method enables the analysis of clotrimazole in river water and sewage effluent from wastewater treatment plants with a LOQ of 0.7 ng/L. Environmental monitoring of clotrimazole was undertaken. Samples from river water and sewage effluents were analysed over a one-year period. Clotrimazole was found in every tested sample with concentration range from 1 to 31 ng/L. The amount of clotrimazole in tested samples was highly dependent on sampling season. The highest results were obtained in summer and autumn.

Keywords: Clotrimazole; Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction; Environmental samples.