Molecular imprinting on surface of silica particles for the selective extraction of benzylparaben in flow system applied to cosmetics and water samples

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2018-11, Vol.142, p.329-334
• Main Authors: Vicario, Ana, Solari, Manuel, Felici, Emiliano, Aragón, Leslie, Bertolino, Franco, Gomez, María R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2018.06.031

Molecular imprinted polymer coated Silica (Si-MIP) particles were prepared using non-covalent approach. The Si-MIP material was employed as selective solid phase extraction sorbent for the determination of benzylparaben (BP) in samples of environmental and cosmetic origin. The preconcentration step was studied firstly in a batch system and subsequently it was optimized and adapted to an automatized flow system and the eluate was then analyzed by HPLC-UV. The whole procedure was validated, showing satisfactory analytical parameters. The methodology was applied to real samples showing extraction recoveries always better than 98.85%. A linear response within the concentration range of 1.11 × 10−5–0.025 mg mL−1 was obtained for BP (r2 = 0.9998). The limits of detection and quantification after Si-MIP-HPLC procedure were 3.34 and 11.16 ng mL−1, respectively. The developed methodology provided a simple an economic way for accomplishing a clean-up/preconcentration step and the subsequent determination of BP in a complex matrix. The showed selectivity plus robustness and the possibility of reutilization, enable it to be used for BP routine monitoring in personal care products (PCP) and environmental samples. •A Si-MIP/HPLC-UV analytical system was developed and validated for benzylparaben analysis.•The Si-MIP/HPLC-UV procedure was highly selective for its application in complex matrixes.•The method is simpler and faster than previous and shows high stability.•Lower LOQ and good recovery factors were obtained with routinely used equipment.•The whole procedure avoids the use of large volumes of pollutant solvents.