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A promising sensing platform for explosive markers: Zeolite-like metal-organic framework based monolithic composite
Kareem Yusuf1, Osama Shekhah2, Seetah Alharbi3
1Advanced Materials Research Chair (AMRC), Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
This study developed a divinylbenzene (DVB) monolithic polymer composite with sodalite zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks (3-ZMOF@DVB) for enhanced preconcentration of explosive markers. The composite shows improved sensitivity and selectivity for detecting nitroalkanes, crucial for on-site explosive detection.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Preconcentration is vital for detecting low-concentration explosive markers.
- Divinylbenzene (DVB) monolithic polymers offer potential as selective sorbents.
- Zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks (ZMOFs) can enhance material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a novel divinylbenzene monolithic polymer composite (3-ZMOF@DVB) for preconcentrating aliphatic nitroalkanes.
- To evaluate the preconcentration efficiency, selectivity, and adsorption properties of the developed material.
- To investigate the influence of incorporating sodalite ZMOF on the DVB matrix for explosive marker detection.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of neat-DVB and 3-ZMOF@DVB monolithic capillary columns (18 cm).
- Gas chromatography (GC) for separation performance analysis of nitroalkane mixtures.
- Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) for physicochemical adsorption studies and Lewis acid-base property determination.
Main Results:
- The 3-ZMOF@DVB composite exhibited a 14% higher adsorption/desorption ratio for nitromethane compared to neat-DVB.
- Incorporation of ZMOF increased microporosity and favored entropic-driven adsorption interactions.
- The 3-ZMOF@DVB matrix showed a more specific character for nitroalkanes and an increased electron-accepting nature.
Conclusions:
- The 3-ZMOF@DVB monolithic composite is a sensitive, selective, and cost-effective preconcentrator for vapor-phase aliphatic nitroalkanes.
- The study demonstrates the potential of ZMOF incorporation to enhance DVB-based materials for explosive trace detection.
- IGC analysis provided insights into the adsorption mechanisms governing the superior performance of the developed materials.
