Preparation of a K(+) -imprinted polymer for the selective recognition of K(+) in food samples

An analytical method is reported for the preparation of K(+) -imprinted nanoparticles using cryptand 222 as the complexing agent, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the crosslinker and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as the radical initiator. The prepared particles have a diameter of 200-250 nm. The maximum adsorption capacity of potassium ion-imprinted polymer particles was 120 μmol/g. The optimum pH for quantitative extraction was 9.0. The nature of the eluent, eluent concentration, adsorption and desorption times, weight of the polymer material, aqueous phase, and desorption volumes were also studied. The relative selectivity coefficients of K(+) /Li(+) , K(+) /Na(+) , K(+) /Rb(+) and K(+) /Cs(+) were 48.10, 4.80, 29.70, and 43.4, respectively. The relative standard deviation and limit of detection of the method were obtained 1.61% and 4.62 ng/L, respectively. Finally, the method was applied for the determination of potassium ions from different samples using flame photometry.