Solid-phase extraction cartridges with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and effect of the oxygen functionalities on the recovery efficiency of organic micropollutants

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Marta O. Barbosa (Author) FEUP; Rui S. Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Ana Rita Lado Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Manuel Fernando R. Pereira (Author) FEUP; Adrián M. T. Silva (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Scientific Reports

Vol. 10

ISSN: 2045-2322

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Associated Projects

InSpeCt - Identifying and interrupting micropollutants of EU concern by using Smart Carbon materials

SAMPREP - Novas técnicas miniaturizadas de preparação de amostra para determinação de micropoluentes em matrizes ambientais

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-7P4

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79244-8

Abstract (EN): Pristine and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated as adsorbent materials inside solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges for extraction and preconcentration of 8 EU-relevant organic micropollutants (with different pKa and polarity) before chromatographic analysis of surface water. The recoveries obtained were>60% for 5/8 target pollutants (acetamiprid, atrazine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and isoproturon) using a low amount of this reusable adsorbent (50 mg) and an eco-friendly solvent (ethanol) for both conditioning and elution steps. The introduction of oxygenated surface groups in the carbon nanotubes by using a controlled HNO3 hydrothermal oxidation method, considerably improved the recoveries obtained for PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and methiocarb, which was ascribed to the hydrogen bond adsorption mechanism, but decreased those observed for the pesticide acetamiprid and for two pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine and diclofenac), suggesting pi-pi dispersive interactions. Moreover, a good correlation was found between the recovery obtained for methiocarb and the amount of oxygenated surface groups on functionalized MWCNTs, which was mainly attributed to the increase of phenols and carbonyl and quinone groups. Thus, the HNO3 hydrothermal oxidation method can be used to finely tune the surface chemistry (and texture) of MWCNTs according to the specific micropollutants to be extracted and quantified in real water samples.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12