Preparation and evaluation of molecularly imprinted polymers as selective SPE sorbents for the determination of cathinones in river water

In this study, a series of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesised using (1R,2S)-(–)-ephedrine or (1S,2S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine as template, methacrylic acid functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate cross-linking agent. A highly selective sensitive method the best performing MIP sorbent in solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry was established for enantiomeric determination five cathinones river water samples. The SPE parameters (sample loading volume pH, washing elution solutions) optimised so that recoveries selectivities analytes high. enantioselectivity MIPs towards enantiomers during process also investigated. Under optimal conditions, developed provided satisfactory ranging from 67.6 to 83.2 % with negligible matrix effect −5.5 1.8 %. detection limits ranged 0.3 0.8 ng/L quantification 1.0 2.0 ng/L. application analysis samples indicated methedrone butylone present at low concentration levels