Varying uptake of aromatic compounds in an aqueous solution by Mg-AI layered double hydroxides intercalated with several organic sulfonates

Magnesium-aluminum layered double hydroxide (Mg-AI LDH) intercalated with l-naphthol-3-sulfonate (1-N-3-S^-) was prepared by coprecipitation. The 1-naphthol-3,8-disulfonate (l-N-3,8-DS^2-)-intercalated Mg-AI LDH could selectively take up nonionic aromatic compounds from aqueous solution. This was attributed to π-π stacking interactions between the benzene ring of the compounds and the naphthalene ring of 1-N-3,8-DS ^2- intercalated within the interlayer spaces of Mg-AI LDH. However, the 1-N-3-S^--intercalated Mg-AI LDH could hardly realize the selective uptake of aromatic compounds since its naphthalene ring is more polarized and does not easily participate in π-π stacking interactions with the phenyl groups of target aromatic compounds.