Integration of covalent organic framework-based materials and sorptive extraction techniques for quantitation of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and personal care products

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are hazardous, long-lasting chemicals that bioaccumulate and persist in the environment. Because of their serious health risks (e.g., endocrine disruption, cancer, and reproductive disorders), there has been the growing demand for accurate detection tools to quantify dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, bisphenol A, and hormones in food, environmental, and biological matrices. This review explores the practical application of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in solid-phase extraction as a pre-concentration tool for POPs, mainly in terms of analytical sensitivity and procedural efficiency. COFs are demonstrated as promising sorption media with an enhanced sorption ability toward POPs aided by their unique structural and surface properties. This review delves into the synthesis, characterization, and applications of COFs in association with their performance and the distinctive features. It also discusses their potential applications and significant hurdles.