Inclusion as an efficient purification method for specific removal of tricyclic organic sulfur/nitrogen pollutants in fuel and effluent with cyclodextrin polymers

[Display omitted] •Inclusion as an efficient purification method was demonstrated with 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5.•2-HP-γ-CDP was first synthesized by using 2-HP-γ-CD and TFTPN.•The removal rate of 4,6-DMDBT or MB using 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 was 15 times that of AC.•The qm of 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 towards 4,6-DMDBT or MB was higher than reported materials.•Removal was realized by inclusion of the size-matched molecules in CD units. For specific removal of tricyclic organic sulfur/nitrogen pollutants in fuel and effluent, inclusion not adsorption as an efficient purification method was studied with cyclodextrin polymers. Herein, a novel 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin polymer (2-HP-γ-CDP) was synthesized using tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile (TFTPN) as cross-linker for specific removal of tricyclic organic sulfur/nitrogen pollutants, including 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) in fuel and methylene blue (MB) in effluent. When the molar ratio of 2-HP-γ-CD and TFTPN was 1:5 in the synthesis process, the prepared micro-mesoporous 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 with a surface area of 365.4 m2·g−1 has the best removal performance. 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 was almost 15 times the commercial activated carbon in removal rate. Meanwhile, the maximum removal capacity of 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 was higher than that of most reported traditional adsorbents. Furthermore, 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 was easily regenerated with ethanol and almost unchanged in capacity over 5 cycles. It was demonstrated that most of size-matched 4,6-DMDBT and MB removed by 2-HP-γ-CDP1:5 enter the hydrophobic inner cavity of 2-HP-γ-CD units. The pleasant inclusion removal method offers the potential applications of 2-HP-γ-CDPs in fuel desulfurization and effluent purification.