PCN-222 metal–organic framework: a selective and highly efficient sorbent for the extraction of aspartame from gum, juice, and diet soft drink before its spectrophotometric determination

In this paper, we describe synthesis and application of an iron porphyrinc metal–organic framework PCN-222(Fe) for solid phase extraction of aspartame, an artificial non-saccharine sweetener, from gum, juice and diet soft drink samples prior to its determination by spectrophotometry. The mesoporous MOF was synthesized solvo-thermally and characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller techniques. To obtain the best extraction efficiency of aspartame, significant affecting parameters such as pH of sample solution, amount of the sorbent, type and volume of eluting solvent, and adsorption and desorption times were investigated and optimized. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graph for aspartame was linear in the range of 0.1 to 100.0 mg.L(−1) and relative standard deviation of aspartame was 1.7% (n = 7). Limit of detection of method calculated as 0.019 mg.L(−1) and the enrichment factor of 350 folds was obtained. Adsorption capacity of synthesized sorbent was found to be 356 mg.g(−1). Hierarchical porosity, the eight terminal–OH groups of the Zr(6) node, and hydrogen bonding possibly play vital role for selective adsorption of aspartame. The optimized method was successfully applied to the determination of aspartame in real samples with reasonable recoveries (> 98%). [Image: see text]