Molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction examples

A molecularly imprinted column for liquid chromatography can be used not only to separate analytes, but also to selectively extract analytes from complex samples. This technique is called on-line Molecularly Imprinted Solid Phase Extraction (on-line MISPE), and it combines the high extraction efficiency of reverse phase SPE for aqueous samples with the high selectivity of the molecular-imprinted polymers. Examples of successful selective extraction and clean-up are reported in Figs. 9 and 10. 

Abstract Most analytical applications of molecularly imprinted polymers are based on their selective adsorption properties towards the template or its analogs. In chromatography, solid phase extraction and electrochromatography this adsorption is a dynamic process. The dynamic process combined with the nonlinear adsorption isotherm of the polymers and other factors results in complications which have limited the success of imprinted polymers. This chapter explains these problems and shows many examples of successful applications overcoming or avoiding the problems. 

The application of MIPs as the stationary phase in solid-phase extraction (SPE), often referred to as molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction (MIS P E), is a rapidly growing area [197-199]. With MISPE, highly specific enrichment of substances present at trace levels is possible. The technique has been applied to the analysis of drugs, for example, caffeine [200], scopolamine [201], naproxen [202], tetracycline [203], cholesterol [204] and local anesthetics [205], as well as environmental pollutants, exemplified by organophosphate flame retardants [206-208], triazines in soil and vegetable samples [71] and naphthalene sulfonates in river water [209]. 

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