A novel magnetic porous organic cage adsorbent for high-efficient removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals from environmental water

Abstract

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are pervasive emerging pollutants found in environmental water, stemming from their widespread use in personal consumer products. This study presents a novel magnetic Porous organic cage (POC) material, Fe3O4-COOH@CC3R-OH, which has been proven to be highly effective in eco-friendly eliminating EDCs. Featuring a tetrahedral morphology with core–shell structure, the new magnetic adsorbent boasts a substantial Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 94.02 m2/g and a particle pore size of 1.14 nm. Rigorous optimization of adsorption conditions for eight specific EDCs was conducted, complemented by insightful molecular docking simulations shedding light on the adsorption mechanisms. Furthermore, the developed Fe3O4-COOH@CC3R-OH magnetic solid phase extraction-assisted high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MSPE-HPLC-MS/MS) method exhibits good sensitivity and precision in the quantitative detection of EDCs in environmental water samples. This integrated approach provides a robust platform for both efficient removal and accurate detection of EDCs, advancing water quality control and safeguarding human health.