Dual Ligand Sol-gel Sorbent Combining Superthydrophobicity and Pi-Pi Interaction

Competitive Advatanges: Enhanced extraction and preconcentration of nonpolar/hydrophobic analytes, Provide superior enrichment of nonpolar analytes, Optimized sorbent performance. A dual ligand sol-gel sorbent and method of manufacture is provided herein. The dual ligand sol-gel sorbent provides superior enrichment effects through simultaneous exploita­tion of superhydrophobicity of one of the ligands and the ability of the other ligand to undergo Jt-Jt interaction with hydrophobic aromatic analytes. Sorbent performance is enhanced both in terms of analyte enrichment and sorbent stability, such as pH stability and solvent stability.Our inventors have achieved enhanced extraction and pre-concentration of nonpolar/hydrophobic analytes with sol-gel sorbent.  This design will simultaneously possess two surface-bonded organic ligand that provide superior enrich-ment of nonpolar analytes by cooperatively exploiting su-perhydrophobicity of one ligand and p-p interaction of the other. Sorbent performance can be enhanced further by substi-tuting silica with germania, this will improve sorbent per-formance in terms of analyte enrichment and sorbent stability.