Boric acid-functional Zn-organic framework as dispersive solid-phase extraction adsorbent combined with deep eutectic solvent for efficient purification of scutellarin

In this study, a novel boronic acid-decorated Zinc-based metal–organic framework (Zn-PTA-BDBA MOF) was fabricated using Zinc nitrate as a metal unit as well as p-phthalic acid (PTA) and benzene diboronic acid (BDBA) as dual organic ligands. Herein, a dispersive solid-phase extraction (D-μSPE) method based on Zn-PTA-BDBA as adsorbent and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as eluent was successfully proposed for highly efficient purification and enrichment of scutellarin. The morphology, structure, and thermal stability of Zn-PTA-BDBA MOF were systematically characterized. The effects of synthesis conditions, D-μSPE conditions, adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics, reproducibility, and reusability were evaluated in detail. Under the optimum condition, the Zn-PTA-BDBA MOF demonstrates outstanding adsorption performance for scutellarin with an adsorption capacity of 570.19 ± 14.44 mg/g. Furthermore, PEG 200/lactic acid (4:1) was ultimately selected as the optimal DES elution solvent with the desorption rate of scutellarin up to 94.77 ± 2.06 %. More importantly, the application of DES that is ecological, decomposable, and non-lethal makes the D-μSPE process more secure, aligning with green chemical principles. Finally, the established D-μSPE method was successfully applied to the purification and preparation of scutellarin in the traditional Chinese medicine Erigerontis Herba. As well as we employed the D-μSPE method combined with HPLC to establish a rapid, simple, efficient, and green method for the purification and determination of scutellarin in urine samples.