Removal and detection of phenols through an SPE-HPLC method using microporous organic networks as adsorbent

Abstract

The design and development of a facile synthesis approach to construct novel materials for the rapid adsorption and removal of environmental pollutants are of significant interest. In this work, we report the rational design and facile synthesis of magnetic core–shell-based microporous organic networks, Fe₃O₄@MON-TBPT-TEB (TTMON, achieved by reacting 2,4,6-tris(p-bromophenyl) triazine and 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene) and Fe₃O₄@MON-TBPM-DEBP (TDMON, achieved by reacting tetrakis (4-bromophenyl) methane and 4-4′-diethynylbiphenyl). These MONs possessed excellent dispersity, electrostatic attraction as well as plenty of π–π and hydrophobic interaction sites enabled them to efficiently absorb targeted environmental pollutants. TTMON and TDMON exhibited excellent adsorption capacities of 440 and 510 mg g⁻¹, respectively, at 25 °C for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP). TCP, 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), 2-naphthol (2-NT) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from aqueous solution were treated by both MONs, followed by their analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For TDMON, the proposed SPE-HPLC-UV method showed an LOD of 0.03 μg L⁻¹, LOQ of 0.11 μg L⁻¹, and a wide linear range of 1–1000 μg L⁻¹ for TCP. The adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics, isotherms, effect of pH and humic acid (HA), ionic strength, regeneration, and reusability of the MONs were also studied. The results revealed that the novel-designed MONs have potential applications as efficient adsorbents in sample pretreatment.