One pot preparation of magnetic benzylated cyclodextrin-based hyper-cross-linked polymer for phthalate esters extraction from tea beverages

The increasing popularity of packaged beverages has raised concerns about the health risks associated with phthalate esters (PAEs), which are commonly found in plastics used for packaging. This study presents an eco-friendly approach for synthesizing a magnetic benzylated cyclodextrin-based hyper-cross-linked polymer (Fe₃O₄/BnCD-HCPP), in which FeCl₃serves both as a catalyst for the Friedel–Crafts reaction and as an iron source for Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The Fe₃O₄/BnCD-HCPP composite was used as an adsorbent to extract of PAEs from tea beverages via magnetic solid-phase extraction, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The optimized method exhibited excellent sensitivity, with limits of detection ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 μg L⁻¹. Additionally, the method achieved high recovery rates, ranging from 81.5 % to 118.5 %, and demonstrated precision (relative standard deviations <11.6 %) for PAEs spiked into tea beverages. Mechanistic studies indicated that the high extraction efficiency of Fe₃O₄/BnCD-HCPP for PAEs is due to its favorable pore size distribution, large specific surface area, and multiple interactions, including π-π stacking, hydrophobic force, and host-guest inclusion. This research not only provides an effective method for determining PAEs in complex aqueous matrices but also introduces a novel and sustainable approach for the fabrication of magnetic composites.