Assessment of the application of selected metal-organic frameworks as advanced sorbents in passive extraction used in the monitoring of contaminants of emerging concern in surface waters

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-06, Vol.927, p.172215-172215, Article 172215
• Main Authors: Godlewska, Klaudia, Białk-Bielińska, Anna, Mazierski, Paweł, Zdybel, Szymon, Sosnowska, Anita, Górzyński, Daniel, Puzyn, Tomasz, Zaleska-Medynska, Adriana, Klimczuk, Tomasz, Paszkiewicz, Monika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: HCA; Metal-organic frameworks; Molecular descriptors; Passive sampler; PCA; Water monitoring
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172215

Water pollution has become a critical global concern requiring effective monitoring techniques and robust protection strategies. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are increasingly detected in various water sources, with their harmful effects on humans and ecosystems continually evolving. Based on literature reports highlighting the promising sorption properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of NH2-MIL-125 (Ti) and UiO-66 (Ce) as sorbents in passive sampling devices (MOFs-PSDs) for the collection and extraction of a wide group of CECs. Solvothermal methods were used to synthesize MOFs, and the characterization of the obtained materials was performed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), powder X-ray diffractometry (pXRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The research demonstrated the sorption capabilities of the tested MOFs, the ease and rapidity of their chemical regeneration and the possibility of reuse as sorbents. Using chemometric analysis, the structural properties of CECs determining the sorption efficiency on the surface of NH2-MIL-125 (Ti) were identified. The MOFs-PSDs were lab-calibrated to examine the kinetics of analytes sorption and determine the sampling rates (Rs). MOFs-PSDs and CNTs-PSDs (PSDs containing carbon nanotubes as a sorbent) were then placed in the Elbląg River and the Vistula Lagoon to sampling and extraction of the target compounds from the water. CNTs-PSDs were selected, based on our previous research, for the comparison of the effectiveness of the MOFs-PSDs in environmental monitoring. MOFs-PSDs were successfully used in monitoring of CECs in water. The time-weighted average concentrations (CTWA) of 2-hydroxycarbamazepine, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, p-nitrophenol, 3,5-dichlorophenol and caffeine were determined in the Elbląg River and CTWA of metoprolol, diclofenac, 2-hydroxycarbamazepine, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, p-nitrophenol, 3,5-dichlorophenol and caffeine were determine in the Vistula Lagoon using MOFs-PSDs and a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. [Display omitted] •The sorption properties of NH2-MIL-125 (Ti) and UIO-66 (Ce) were examined.•The possibility of regeneration and reuse of NH2-MIL-125 (Ti) has been demonstrated.•The sampling rates of analyte by MOFs-passive samplers were determined.•A comparison was made between MOFs-passive samplers and CNTs-passi