SPION-decorated organofunctionalized MCM48 silica-based nanocomposites for magnetic solid-phase extraction

Abstract

One of the most commonly used parameters to evaluate the environmental impact of petrochemical-associated industries and its consequence on human health is the presence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in water, which are known as BTEX. The removal of these compounds from groundwater, and thus assuring the quality of this resource, is of high relevance but challenging for regions where the technologically advanced devices required for analytical control are unavailable. Accordingly, herein, a novel silica-based nanocomposite adsorbent (MCM48/SPION/C8) was developed together with an efficient magnetic concentration/extraction and recovery method for BTEX contaminants in water samples, allowing their quantitative extraction and recovery and analysis, even in outdated systems. The implementation of magnetic nanoparticles enabled analysis by magnetic solid-phase extraction (mSPE) as expected due to the tailor-made adsorption/desorption properties associated with the easy and fast separation of the adsorbent, its recycling, and reuse. Organo-functionalization of hydrophilic and highly ordered mesoporous silica MCM48 with alkyl chains enabled hydrophobic interactions, thus tailoring its affinity for BTEX species. The novel nanocomposite adsorbent was characterized and compared with a state-of-art commercial product, demonstrating that it outperforms conventional solid-phase extraction materials in terms of recovery efficiency due to its higher specific surface area and entrapment in the hierarchical mesoporous structure achieved upon organofunctionalization with octylsilane.