Deciphering the relationship between the ordered pore structure and solid-phase microextraction behavior of covalent organic frameworks for phenols

The extraction performance of materials is highly related to their physical structure. However, the precise impact of ordered pore structure in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) on extraction performance are still puzzling. To look insight into this, a series of COFs with varying degrees of ordered pore structures were prepared at room temperature by adjusting reaction time and their extraction efficiencies toward phenolic compounds were investigated. The experimental results revealed that the COF with a short range ordered pore structure exhibited a higher affinity for phenolic compounds along with a larger enrichment factor, while the COF with a long range ordered pore structure demonstrated faster extraction kinetics. The investigation into interaction mechanism revealed that the density of available sites is responsible for these differences. Taking COF-OMe-0.5 h as solid-phase microextraction fiber coating, a highly efficient and sensitive quantitative analysis method for phenolic compounds was established by combining it with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The established method boasts high enrichment factors (7192–29440), wide linear ranges (2.0–10000 ng L−1), and low detection limits (0.24–0.54 ng L−1). This study provides a conceptual guide for constructing desirable COFs with controlled pore structures for specific applications. [Display omitted] •COF-OMe with different ordered pore structures were synthesized and employed as SPME coatings.•The relationship between the range order of pore structure and extraction efficiency was systematically discussed.•A sensitive method based on COF-OMe coating was established for the analysis of trace phenols in water.•The established method exhibited low detection limits and wide liner ranges.