Application of magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites for the solid-phase extraction of phthalate esters in water samples

Magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites were successfully prepared in situ and used to develop a highly sensitive magnetic solid-phase extraction method for the preconcentration of phthalate esters such as di- n -butyl phthalate, butyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate from water. The adsorption and desorption of the phthalate esters on magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites were investigated and the parameters affecting the partition of the phthalate esters, such as adsorption, desorption, recovery, were assessed. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method showed excellent sensitivity with limits of detection (S/N = 3) in the range of 0.05–0.1 μg/L and precision in the range of 1.1–2.6% ( n = 5). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, and good spiked recoveries over the range of 79.4–99.4% were obtained. This research provides a possibility to apply this nanocomposite for adsorption, preconcentration, or even removal of various carbon-based ring or hydrophobic pollutants.