Selective solid-phase extraction using molecular imprinted polymer sorbent for the analysis of Florfenicol in food samples

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective solid phase extraction (SPE) of florfenicol (FF) was prepared using FF as template and 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) as functional monomer. For comparison, non-imprinted polymer (NIP) was synthesized in the absence of FF. The synthesized polymers were characterised by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). A molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) procedure was performed in column method by spectrophotometry detection technique. The prepared FF–MIP showed higher adsorption capacity than the non-imprinted polymer (NIP) and the maximum static adsorption capacities of FF on the MIP and the NIP were 4.32 and 2.88 mg g−1, respectively. Kinetics of the adsorption was fast and the adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 30 min. The accuracy of the developed method was satisfactory for determination of FF in fish, chicken meat and honey samples.