Herbicide Recognition, Sensing, and Removal Enabled by Supramolecular Macrocyclic Chemistry

Herbicides are indispensable for modern agriculture, but their trace residues in soil, water, and food raise increasing concerns regarding environmental safety and human exposure. Conventional analytical and treatment methods are widely used, yet they often encounter limitations in complex agronomic matrices because of matrix interference, limited selectivity, and operational constraints. Supramolecular macrocyclic compounds with tunable, precise host-guest molecular recognition capabilities have provided a powerful chemical strategy for overcoming this challenge; these include cyclodextrins, calixarenes, pillararenes, and cucurbiturils. This review summarizes recent advances in supramolecular macrocyclic chemistry for herbicide recognition, sensing, sample pretreatment, and removal. In analysis, supramolecular strategies have enabled fluorescence, colorimetric, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and electrochemical platforms for rapid and selective herbicide detection. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to utilize differential binding affinity to achieve selective enrichment during sample pretreatment, thereby effectively suppressing matrix effects and significantly reducing the limit of detection (LOD). Beyond analysis, we also review strategies for achieving efficient herbicide removal through targeted adsorption and host-assisted degradation using these supramolecular systems. Ultimately, this article emphasizes the unique advantages of supramolecular strategies in translating precise molecular recognition into practical agricultural solutions and outlines the future directions and challenges of this interdisciplinary field in advancing sustainable agriculture.