A novel method to prepare monolithic molecular imprinted polymer fiber for solid-phase microextraction by microwave...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a widely used technique for sample preparation.
• Developing selective and efficient extraction materials is crucial for trace analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid and efficient method for preparing monolithic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) fibers.
• To evaluate the performance of these MIP fibers for the selective solid-phase microextraction of dimethyl phthalate (DMP).

Main Methods:

• Microwave-assisted imprinting polymerization within silica capillaries to create MIP fibers.
• Optimization of synthesis parameters including template/monomer ratio and porogen volume.
• Characterization of MIP fibers using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Investigation of SPME parameters: extraction time, salt concentration, desorption time, and solvent choice.
• Analysis of DMP and related phthalates in bottled beverages using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Main Results:

• Rapid synthesis of MIP fibers in 4.5 minutes using microwave irradiation.
• High selectivity for DMP over dibutyl phthalate and di-n-octylo-phthalate, with selectivity coefficients of 5.6, 2.6, and 1.4, respectively.
• Successful application in detecting DMP in bottled beverages with relative recoveries ranging from 73.8% to 98.5%.

Conclusions:

• Microwave-assisted synthesis offers a fast and effective route to produce highly selective MIP fibers.
• The developed MIP fibers demonstrate excellent potential for the selective extraction and analysis of DMP in complex matrices like beverages.
• This method provides a promising alternative for trace phthalate analysis in food and beverage safety applications.