Covalent organic framework as adsorbent for ultrasound-assisted dispersive (micro)solid phase extraction of polycyclic synthetic fragrances from seawater followed by fluorescent determination

In this work, a new analytical approach based on ultrasound-assisted dispersive (micro)solid phase extraction (US-D-μSPE) using TpBD-Me2 covalent organic framework (COF) as adsorbent for simple, rapid and selective fluorescent determination of two polycyclic synthetic fragrances in seawater, i.e., 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-(γ)-2-benzopyran (HHCB), branded galaxolide®, and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyltetralin (AHTN), branded tonalide®, is proposed. Different parameters involved in both adsorption and desorption steps were optimized in order to obtain the best results. High adsorption efficiencies in the range of 91.2-97.8% were achieved for both analytes. Desorption efficiencies of ∼98% for AHTN and HHCB were obtained using methanol as solvent, rendering the material recyclable with merely minor losses in adsorption efficiency after five consecutive cycles of adsorption/desorption. Limits of detection (LODs) were 0.082 μg L-1 and 0.070 μg L-1 for AHTN and HHCB, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of seawater without the need for a previous sample treatment, e.g., pH adjustment. Recoveries in the range of 90.4-101.2% with a relative standard deviation of 5.8% were obtained for both fragrances. The results proved the great capacity of TpBD-Me2 COF for the selective sorption of polycyclic fragrances in combination with fluorescent detection, being highly promising for application to environmental monitoring of other emerging organic pollutants.