Pollen grains as a low-cost, green, alternative sorbent for hydrophilic solid-phase extraction

Many natural products have demonstrated functionality as novel, green sorbents for organic compounds. However, only limited reports exist on the use of such green materials as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for select organic acids. In this study, we employed pollen grains as a hydrophilic sorbent and investigated the influence of various extraction parameters using a series of experimental designs. The chemical structure and surface properties of the prepared sorbent were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The Plackett-Burman design was used to experimentally screen for parameters that significantly influenced the extraction performance. Three selected parameters were then statistically optimized by applying a central composite design combined with a response surface methodology. Phenolic acid residues were determined and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection; a mass spectrometric detector in the selected ion monitoring mode was also used for identification. As a practical example, phenolic acids in the soil were successfully separated by the developed pollen sorbent. These results therefore indicate that pollen grains can be considered as a sustainable, green, and safe alternative to bare silica for extraction and separation applications.