New functionalised polymeric microspheres for multicomponent solid phase extraction of phenolic compounds

Abstract

Three new porous copolymers possessing basic character were prepared by chemical modification of polymeric adsorbent (copolymer of bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide and glycidyl methacrylate, BES.DM + GMA). Modification was carried out by reactions of surface epoxide groups of the precursor with amines: butylenediamine, diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Next, two of the synthesized materials were chosen for further modification involving addition of HCO3− groups to amine species. The obtained polymer adsorbents were characterised by elemental analyses, FTIR, nitrogen adsorption and thermal analyses. The prepared copolymers were studied for use as adsorbent in solid phase extraction (SPE) of multicomponent mixture of phenolic compounds consisting of: phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. The SPE experiments were carried out in off-line mode. The influence of the chemical modification on adsorption properties of the presented materials was observed. The prepared adsorbents possessed different sorption properties towards the phenols. In addition, a competition phenomenon of the testing compounds for active sites on the polymer surface was observed. The most effective in adsorption of phenol and its chlorinated derivatives were the polymers with both amine and bicarbonate groups. The best recovery results were obtained for 2,4-dichlorophenol.