Focused ultrasound solid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of brominated flame retardants in indoor dust.

This study presents a focused ultrasound solid-liquid extraction (FUSLE) and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs), from mono- to hexa-congeners, in indoor dust. This approach provided a simple, fast, and economical method. After the solvent extraction selection, the FUSLE conditions were studied using a central composite design. Finally, the number of extraction cycles was studied. The selected conditions were 8 mL of 3:1 n-hexane-acetone mixture as extraction solvent, at a power of 65% for 20 s. The proposed method allowed accurate determination of BDEs, with recovery values around 100% and detection limits between 0.05 and 0.8 ng g(-1). It also has advantages over other existing methods in terms of simplicity, analysis time, and solvent consumption. The analysis of several indoor dust samples showed high concentration values of BDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154 in some of the samples, moreover, BDEs 47 and 99 were found in all samples.