Application of multivariate analysis to the screening of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for ametryn

Among the solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques, a novel system for a triazine herbicide named ametryn, has been developed based on a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) phase. Through this method, the synthesis of the complementary to ametryn MIP was accomplished and the factors influencing its efficiency have been optimized. Through the optimization process, the type and the amounts of functional monomer and solvents, template amount, cross-linker, initiator as well as the polymerization temperature were considered to be evaluated. Based on the obtained results, the optimum conditions for the efficient polymerized sorbent, considering the recovery efficiency were solvent: acetonitrile, 6.41 mL; monomer: methacrylic acid, 5.41 mmol; template: 1.204 mmol; cross-linker: 27.070 mmol; initiator: 2.03 mmol; temperature: 40.86 °C. The optimum molar ratio among the template, monomer and cross-linker for ametryn was 1:4.49:22.48. The reversed-phase HPLC-UV was used for the ametryn determination, using an isocratic solvent delivery system (acetonitrile: H2O, 60:40), flow-rate of 0.8 mL min−1 and a UV wavelength of 220 nm. In line with the obtained results, using central composite design (CCD) can increase the precision and accuracy of synthesis and optimization of MIP to ametryn and possibly other similar analogues.