Abstract: Three polymers have been synthesised using 4-chlorophenol (4- CP) as the template, following different protocols (non- covalent and semi-covalent) and using different functional co- monomers, 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) and methacrylic acid (MAA). The polymers were evaluated to check their selectivity as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line to liquid chromatography. The solid-phase extraction procedure using MIPs (MISPE), including the clean-up step to remove any interferences, was optimised. The 4-VP non- covalent polymer was the only one which showed a clear imprint effect. This MIP also showed cross-reactivity for the 4-chloro- substituted phenols and for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from a mixture containing the 11 priority EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) phenolic compounds and 4-chlorophenol. The MIP was applied to selectively extract the 4-chloro-substituted compounds and 4-NP from river water samples. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
Template and target information: 4-chlorophenol, 4-CP