MOF-MWCNT functionalized sponge as a single-adsorbent in Sin-QuEChERS cleanup platform for efficient multi-pesticide...

A novel Sin-QuEChERS cleanup method was developed for multi-pesticide residue analysis in Codonopsis radix by introducing a compressible composite adsorbent-isoreticular metal-organic framework-3 (IRMOF-3)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-functionalized melamine sponge (MOF/MT@MeS). This innovative material enables one-step matrix cleanup through immersion and physical squeezing, eliminating the need for centrifugation and multiple sorbents required in conventional QuEChERS method. The covalent integration of amino-functionalized IRMOF-3 and MWCNTs exploits synergistic hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions for efficient purification. The composite significantly suppressed matrix effects (-12.7 to 17.4 % vs -30.9 to 32.8 %). Compared to traditional adsorbent materials, the composite yielded more consistent pesticide recoveries (90.4-117.9 % vs 83.7-123.4 %). The validated method exhibited excellent linearity (R², 0.9934-0.9991), high sensitivity (detection limits 0.54-8.33 μg/kg), and satisfactory accuracy with recoveries of 72.4-111.9 % and RSD ≤14.1 %. This work establishes functionalized sponge-based adsorbents as an efficient, rapid, and reliable alternative for pesticide monitoring in complex botanical matrices.