Application of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for the solid phase extraction of selected nitroaromatic compounds from contaminated aqueous environments

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were successfully synthesized by bulk polymerization for the extraction of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). Based on the HPLC method, the linear calibration range of 0.5-5 mg L-1 for 2,4-dinitrotoluene, nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene gave detection limits of 13.6, 7.7 and 27.2 mu g L-1, respectively, and good correlation values of R-2 > 0.993 of all the analytes were obtained. The optimum sorption was at a sorbent dosage of 5 g L-1, a contact time of 15 min and at pH 8. Recoveries for 2,4-dinitrotoluene, nitrobenzene and 2nitrotoluene from spiked real water samples were all >= 82%.