DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v24i2.131

Keywords: Chitosan; nanohybrid; dispersive solid phase extraction; Box Behnken design; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

Abstract

Chitosan was hybridised with tetraethoxysilane via hydrolysis to obtain a bio-nanohybrid composite sorbent for dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in aqueous samples. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) micrographs showed that the bio-nanohybrid composite was composed of spherical-shaped nanoscale particles with sizes ranging from 41.1 - 231.5 nm. The effects of three significant parameters, namely extraction time, sample pH, and desorption time, on the determination of naproxen (NAP), diclofenac sodium (DIC), and mefenamic acid (MEF), were evaluated systematically using the Box Behnken design (BBD). R2 was found to be 0.942 for NAP, 0.966 for DIC and 0.960 for MEF. These results were all close to 1.0, indicating good correlation between predicted and observed values. Under optimized conditions, the DSPE showed good linearity over the range of 0.1 - 500 μgL-1, low detection limits (0.04-0.67 µg/L), excellent limits of quantification (0.15-2.78 µgL-1), excellent relative recoveries (93.06-101.48%) and acceptable precision with relative standard deviation (RSD) values < 7.75%. These results indicate that this bio-nanohybrid composite is a promising sorbent for sorbent-based microextraction and a good alternative to synthetic polymer sorbents.