A chain-shattering
polymer (CSP) has been proposed as a microdispersive
solid-phase extraction (μdSPE) sorbent in a proof-of-concept
study of degradable materials for analytical purposes. The responsive
CSP was synthesized from 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)-2-nitrobenzene acting
as the self-immolative trigger responsive unit and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic
acid as aromatic linker to enhance noncovalent aromatic interactions
with the analytes. The CSP was characterized and applied as a μdSPE
sorbent of a group of plasticizers, which were selected as model analytes,
from different types of environmental water samples (tap, waste, and
spring waters). Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection
was used for analyte determination. Mean recovery values were in the
range of 80%–118% with RSD values below 22%. After the extraction,
the polymer could be efficiently degraded by UV irradiation or by
chemical reduction, recovering the aromatic linker. This work has
proved the potential of CSPs as recyclable sorbents, paving the way
to more environmentally benign analytical procedures.