A rapid and simple method for the removal of dyes and organophosphorus pesticides from water and soil samples using deep eutectic solvent embedded sponge

Abstract A new treatment method using a deep eutectic solvent embedded melamine sponge (DES–MS) was studied for the removal of organic pollutants from water and soil samples. Five organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) consisting of azinphos–methyl (AZP), parathion–methyl (PRT), fenitrothion (FNT), diazinon (DIZ) and chlorpyrifos (CPF), and two dyes including acid blue 29 (AB29) and malachite green (MG) were used as the model pollutants. DESs were easily prepared from tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) and various fatty acids. The synthesised DESs were loaded into the sponge before being utilized for the removal of the studied pollutants. After the removal, the residual OPPs or dyes in the supernatant was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography or derivative spectrophotometry, respectively. The proposed method was simple, rapid, environmentally friendly and effective with the removal efficiency higher than 70% for various samples. Moreover, the removal of various dyes was successfully achieved with the efficiency greater than 65% under the optimum condition.