A facile in-situ ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of terephthalic acid-layered double hydroxide/bacterial cellulose: Application for eco-friendly analysis of multi-residue pesticides in vineyard soils

Abstract

A novel nanostructure biosorbent comprised of bacterial cellulose (BC) and a Cu-Cr layered double hydroxide (LDH) intercalated with terephthalic acid (TPA) was prepared using the in-situ coprecipitation method. The synthesized TPA/CuCr-LDH@BC sorbent was used in quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction of multiclass pesticides (nine insecticides, five acaricides, one herbicide, and one fungicide) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extraction factors such as type and volume of eluent, sorbent dosage, adsorption and desorption times, sample pH, and salt were optimized. The sorbent was analyzed with field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and adsorption/desorption isotherms to check its chemical structure, crystallinity, and porosity. Matrix effect (15.3–19.6 %), linearity (20–2000 µg/L, r2 > 0.9982), limits of quantification (6–12 µg/L), and enrichment factor (42–65) were calculated. The efficiency and accuracy of the developed method were assessed with the analysis of five vineyard soil samples and the resulting recoveries were in the range of 60–130 % (RSD%=3.5–12.9). The green aspects of the procedure were evaluated by the Complex-GAPI, the AGREE, and the Analytical Eco-Scale tools. This study describes the first-time synthesis of TPA/CuCr-LDH@BC composite and its application as sorbent material for the microextraction of multi-residue pesticides in agricultural soils.