Application of HS-SPME with Poly(1-Vinyl-3-Hexylimidazolium Chloride) Polymeric Ionic Liquid Coating Using GC–MS to Determine Volatile Fatty Acids in Dairy Wastewater

Volatile fatty acids were determined in this study using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with a poly(1-vinyl-3-hexylimidazolium chloride) polymeric ionic liquid coated fiber followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Experimental parameters such as extraction time and temperature, sample volume as well as desorption time and temperature were optimized. Detection limits of the method were in the range of 0.13–0.26 mg/L. The coefficient of variation ranged from 0.12 to 6.9 %. The method was applied to determine volatile fatty acids in dairy wastewater from different operations and in bulk wastewater.