Recent advance of new sample preparation materials in the analysis and detection of environmental pollutants

To successfully analyze complex samples and detect trace targets, sample pretreatment is essential. Efficient sample pretreatment techniques can remove or reduce interference from the sample matrix. It can also enrich analytes, thereby improving analytical accuracy and sensitivity. In recent years, various sample preparation techniques, including SPE, magnetic dispersion SPE, pipette tip SPE, stir bar extraction, fiber SPME, and in-tube SPME, have received increasing attention in environmental analysis and monitoring. The extraction efficiency mainly depends on the type of adsorbent material. Therefore, the development of efficient adsorbents is a crucial step toward sample preparation. This review summarizes and discusses the research advances in extraction materials over recent years. These extraction materials contain inorganic adsorbents, organic adsorbents, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials such as graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, inorganic aerogels, organic aerogels, triazinyl-functionalized materials, triazine-based polymers, molecularly imprinted polymers, covalent organic frameworks, metal-organic frameworks, and their derivatives. These materials have been applied to extract different types of pollutants, including metal ions, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasticizers, alkanes, phenols, chlorophenols, chlorobenzenes, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorosulfonic acids, perfluorocarboxylic acids, estrogens, drug residues, and pesticide residues, from environmental samples (such as water and soil samples). These sample preparation materials possess high surface areas, numerous adsorption sites, and allow extraction via various mechanisms, such as pi-pi, electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic interactions, as well as hydrogen and halogen bond formation. Various sample pretreatment techniques based on these extraction materials have been combined with various detection methods, including chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and ion mobility spectroscopy, and have been extensively used for the determination of environmental pollutants. The existing challenges associated with the development of sample preparation techniques are proposed, and prospects for such extraction materials in environmental analysis and monitoring are discussed. Major trends in the field, including the development of efficient extraction materials with high enrichment ability, good selectivity, excellent thermal stability, and chemical stability, are discussed. Green sample pretreatment materials, environmentally friendly synthesis methods, and green sample pretreatment methods are also explored. Rapid sample pretreatment methods that can be conducted within minutes or seconds are of significant interest. Further, online sample pretreatment and automatic analysis methods have attracted increasing attention. Besides, real-time analysis and in situ detection have been important development directions, and are expected to be widely applicable in environmental analysis, biological detection, and other fields. Modern synthesis technology should be introduced to synthesize specific extraction materials. Controllable preparation methods for extraction materials, such as the in situ growth or in situ preparation of extraction coatings, will acquire importance in coming years. It will also be important to adopt high-performance materials from other fields for sample pretreatment. Organic-inorganic hybrid extraction materials can combine the advantages both organic materials and inorganic materials, and mutually compensate for any disadvantages. Extraction materials doped with nanomaterials are also promising. Although existing sample pretreatment techniques are relatively efficient, it is still imperative to develop novel sample preparation methods.

Automated summary

Sample pretreatment is crucial for successful analysis of complex samples and detection of trace targets. Efficient sample pretreatment techniques can improve analytical accuracy and sensitivity by removing interference, enriching analytes, and using various extraction materials to extract different pollutants from environmental samples. Various extraction materials, including inorganic adsorbents, organic adsorbents, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials, coupled with different detection methods, have been widely used in environmental analysis. Future trends include the development of high-performance extraction materials, green sample pretreatment methods, rapid sample preparation methods, and the combination of organic-inorganic hybrid extraction materials to overcome limitations and enhance extraction efficiency.