Effective separation of dopamine from bananas on 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine imprinted polymer

A 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine imprinted polymer (MIP(pt) ) was prepared via the precipitation polymerization together with a nonimprinted polymer (NIP). The morphology of particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and the specific surface areas were estimated by methylene blue adsorption (60.5 ± 3.5 and 36.9 ± 1.2 m(2)/g for MIP(pt) and NIP, respectively). The binding experiments were performed to determine the binding capacity of MIP(pt)/NIP particles toward dopamine. Next, the effects of solvents on loading, washing, and eluting steps were examined on solid-phase extraction (SPE). Methanol-water 85:15 v/v (loading step), methanol (washing step), and 0.04 M aqueous ammonium acetate-methanol 30:70 v/v (eluting step) were selected as the most effective systems. Described SPE protocol was successfully applied for separation of dopamine on 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine imprinted particles. Finally, the molecularly imprinted polymer was used for determination of dopamine in spiked banana extract. The total recovery of dopamine from MIP(pt) was equal to 88.5 ± 4.6%, but from NIP was only 12.8 ± 2.3%. The developed material and method were demonstrated to be applicable for the separation of dopamine from bananas. The commercial sorbent C18 was not suitable to such application.