Exploration of natural deep eutectic solvent as the alternative dispersive solvent in dllme for the extraction of anabolic steroid drugs in water

Abstract

By combining hydrogen bond donors such as D-sorbitol, glucose, and sucrose with hydrogen bond acceptors like L-proline and lactic acid, a successful preparation of six new types of eco-friendly solvent known as natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) was achieved. Their capability as dispersive solvent substituting hazardous and non-biodegradability organic solvents was explored in vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (VADLLME) method for determination of anabolic steroid drugs in aqueous samples. Optimization combination of hydrogen bond donor-hydrogen bond acceptor and their molar ratio were investigated, and the result showed high viscosity of lactic acid: sorbitol at a molar ratio of 2:1, whereby recorded the highest extraction efficiency towards the determination of nandrolone and testosterone. This optimum NADES combination was then performed in three significant VADLLME procedures, including the volume of NADES as the dispersive solvent, type, and volume of extraction solvent. The VADLLME optimal conditions are as follows: NADES dispersive solvent volume of 500 µL, chloroform as an extraction solvent and extraction solvent volume at 200 µL. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity was achieved (0.5-10 mg/L) with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9990 and 0.9996 for the nandrolone and testosterone, respectively. The LOD values were recorded in the range of 0.0020-0.0117 mg/L, while LOQ values were recorded in the range of 0.0067-0.0392 mg/L, respectively. The developed NADES-VADLLME method was applied for the determination of nandrolone and testosterone in tap water samples, with relative recovery values ranging from 88.63-97.23%. Based on the results obtained, the developed method demonstrated excellent sensitivity for the extraction of nandrolone and testosterone in water samples. The prepared NADES showed great potential as an alternative green dispersive solvent for the extraction of anabolic steroids active contaminants in the aquatic system.