Determination of vitamin A in blood serum based on solid-phase extraction using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-modified attapulgite

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-modified attapulgite was prepared and utilized as a novel sorbent in a simple solid-phase extraction method for the determination of vitamin A in blood serum. Several factors affecting extraction efficiency were systematically optimized, including the sampling solvent and its volume, as well as the elution solvent and its volume. Under the optimal solid-phase extraction conditions, the adsorption capacity of vitamin A was as high as 28 mg/g according to the Langmuir isotherm model. Based on the developed solid-phase extraction method, the level of vitamin A in 200 µL blood serum sample could be accurately determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The recoveries of vitamin A spiked in 10% v/v methanol aqueous solutions were in the range of 86.9–92.8%, with the relative standard deviations not more than 8.1%. The method was applied to the determination of vitamin A in serum samples from 20 pregnant women. Compared with the previously reported solid-phase extraction methods for determination of vitamin A in serum, our developed cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-modified attapulgite-based solid-phase extraction method used lower serum volume, omitted extra steps (i.e. evaporation and re-dissolution), and eliminated internal standard. The results were promising for it to be used in routine monitoring during pregnancy.