Vortex-Assisted Dispersive Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Solid Phase Extraction of Acetaminophen from Water Samples Prior to HPLC-DAD Determination

Neliswa Mpayipheli,Anele Mpupa,Philiswa Nosizo Nomngongo

doi:10.3390/separations8100194

Neliswa Mpayipheli, Anele Mpupa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8100194

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Abstract

In the present study, acetaminophen (ACT) molecularly imprinted polymer (ACT-MIP) were successfully synthesized via surface imprinting polymerization. The structural and morphological properties of ACT-MIP were characterized using various analytical techniques. ACT-MIP were used as an adsorbent in a vortex-assisted dispersive molecularly imprinted solid-phase micro-extraction (VA-d-μ-MISPE), coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method for the determination of ACT in water samples. Influential parameters such as the mass of adsorbent, vortex speed, extraction time, desorption volume, and desorption time were optimized using a multivariate approach. Under optimum conditions, the maximum binding capacities of ACT-MIP and NIP (non-imprinted polymers) were 191 mg/g and 71.5 mg/g, respectively. The linearity was attained across concentrations ranging from 0.630 to 500 µg/L, with a coefficient of determination of 0.9959. For ACT-MIP, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), enhancement factor, and precision of the method were 0.19 ng/L, 0.63 ng/L, 79, and <5%, respectively. The method was applied in the analysis of spiked water samples, and satisfactory percentage recoveries in the range of 95.3–99.8% were obtained.

Highlights

Environmental pollution has increased globally, and it is mainly caused by the release of different compounds as a result of urbanization, industrialization, and population growth [1]
The comparison between the spectrum of ACT-Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and non-imprinted polymers (NIP) confirmed the removal of the template
The polymers were synthesized by using ACT as the template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross linker

Summary

Introduction

Environmental pollution has increased globally, and it is mainly caused by the release of different compounds as a result of urbanization, industrialization, and population growth [1]. Acetaminophen, (ACT) known as paracetamol (N-acetyl-4-aminophenol), is an alternative to aspirin [5] commonly used to relieve general pain such as headache, muscular aches, backache, toothache, as well as fever [6]. It is categorized as one of the most consumed drugs in the world [7]. Due to its extensive use and consumption, it has been detected in influents, effluents, and surface waters in concentrations ranging from ng/L to mg/L [9] It is one of the most commonly used pain relievers and antipyretic drugs, and is excreted in urine [10]. The continuous increase in ACT in drinking water might lead to increased cardiovascular, kidney, and gastro-intestine diseases, as well as mortality [12]

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