Synthesis and characterization of a novel magnetic porous carbon coated with poly(p-phenylenediamine) and its application for furfural preconcentration and determination in baby food and dry milk powder samples

Abstract

The aim of the current research is to develop a MSPE method for the determination of furfural in baby food and dry milk samples. In this regard, a novel magnetic porous carbon composite coated with poly(p-phenylenediamine) was fabricated, characterized, and then applied to the preconcentration/extraction of furfurals from baby food and dry milk powder samples. Initially, magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) were synthesized, and then coated with a metal–organic framework layer named MIL-101(Fe). Afterward, the magnetic MIL-101(Fe) was subjected to calcination under a nitrogen atmosphere and magnetic porous carbon was achieved. Finally, a layer of poly(p-phenylenediamine) was coated on the magnetic porous carbon. The structure of the nanocomposite was investigated with various methods, including FT-IR spectroscopy, electron microcopies (SEM and TEM), VSM, and XRD. The fabricated nanocomposite was applied in magnetic solid-phase extraction of furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural and their determination with liquid chromatography. The effect of experimental variables was explored by using an experimental design approach. The LODs and linear range for the target furfurals were 1.0–2.0 μg kg⁻¹ and 3.0–500 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. The method's repeatability was explored using RSD values and was found to be in the range of 5.2–6.4% (one-day, n = 5) and 9.1–10.8% (day to day, n = 3). Eventually, this new method was employed for the extraction/quantification of target compounds in baby food and dry milk powder samples.