Amino acid functionalized chitosan magnetic nano-based particles for selective trace determination of propyl paraben in food and cosmetic samples

Abstract

Parabens [p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters] are effective and inexpensive preservatives with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity widely used in cosmetics, foods and pharmaceuticals. Parabens are considered as ideal preservatives due to their antimicrobial activity, high stability against pH changes, relatively safe use and low production cost(1). In this study, a magnetic chitosan functionalized with amino acid (MCN-AA) was synthesized and applied as nano-adsorbent in magnetic dispersive micro solid phase extraction (MD-μSPE) method for preconcentration and determination trace amounts of propyl paraben (2). The properties of the as-synthesized MCN-AA were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The main effective parameters on the MD-μSPE, including solution pH, dose of adsorbent, adsorption time and temperature were investigated, and optimized by using a central composite design (3). Under the optimum conditions, linear dynamic rang (LDR), limit of detection (LOD), and relative standard deviation (%RSD) were 12-350 ng mL-1, 3.5 ng mL-1and 3.6%, respectively. Finally the proposed method was successfully applied to monitoring and quantification of propyl paraben in food and cosmetic samples.