Determination and removal of clenbuterol with a stable fluorescent zirconium(IV)-based metal organic framework

A metal organic framework (MOF) based adsorbent of type UiO-66 was hydrothermally prepared and applied to simultaneous sensing and removal of the asthma drug clenbuterol. TheMOF possesses a large specific surface area (1460 cm2 center dot g-1) and a stable structure, and has a large adsorption capacity for clenbuterol (160 mg center dot g-1). If clenbuterol binds to the MOF, the fluorescence of the sorbent (best measured at excitation/ emission wavelengths of 290/ 396 nm) is quenched by up to 88%. Based on these findings, a fluorometric assay has been developed for the rapid determination of clenbuterol. The adsorption equilibrium of UiO-66 for CLB can be achieved at 60 min and the adsorption efficiency is above 80%. The method has a linear response in the 4.0 to 40 ng center dot mL-1 concentration range, and the lower limit of detection is 0.17 mu M. All of this indicates that UiO-66 is promising for simultaneous detection and the removal of CLB in water.