Evaluation of phenylene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica as a stationary phase for solid phase extraction

A periodic mesoporous organosilica, in particular, a phenylene-bridged material (Ph-PMO), was evaluated for the first time as a sorbent for retaining and eluting fenuron, simazine, atrazine, carbaryl and terbutryn in grape must by solid phase extraction (SPE) prior to their determination with capillary electrophoresis coupled with ultraviolet detection (CE-UV). The analytes were used as model compounds to demonstrate the potential of Ph-PMO for increasing the sensitivity of CE. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection for the analytes ranged from 0.6 to 4 μg/L, and their limits of quantitation from 2 to 10 μg/L. These values were comparable and, in some cases, even better than those obtained with C18 and HLB materials. Ph-PMO was characterized physicochemically by X-ray diffraction analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption measurements and laser diffraction particle sizing. The sorbent afforded the extraction of atrazine, carbaryl and terbutryn from grape must with mean recoveries ranging from 86 to 105%. Therefore, periodic mesoporous organosilicas possess a high potential as SPE materials.