Rapid isolation and determination of bisphenol A in complicated matrices by magnetic molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensing

Because of its widespread distribution in the environment, bisphenol A (BPA) has become a global concern as an endocrine disruptor and a threat to human health through the food chain. Thus an efficient determination method is urgently needed for monitoring the levels of BPA. Herein, a novel electrochemical technique for the detection of BPA was performed by synchronous extraction and pre-concentration of BPA onto magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (BMMIP), with subsequent readout on a magneto-actuated glassy carbon electrode (MGCE) by differential pulse voltammetry. Compared to the current methods of BPA determination, this BMMIP-based electrochemical sensor (BMMIPs@MGCE) not only simplifies the sample handling procedures substantially, without filtration, centrifugation, or other complex operations, but also can be easily renewed by a controllable magnetic field. As a sensor component, the core–shell BMMIPs exhibited excellent binding capacity (Q e  = 82.5 mg g −1 ), short adsorption equilibrium time (30 s), and outstanding selectivity (k′ = 7.239) towards BPA, as well as stability and recyclability. Importantly, the BMMIPs@MGCE sensor was successfully applied for the on-site monitoring and rapid detection of BPA in complicated real-world specimens, with good recoveries (81.31–119.77%) and a low limit of detection (0.133 μmol L −1 ). Therefore, the stable and low-cost BMMIPs@MGCE sensor provides a new approach for the rapid determination of BPA in the field of environmental control and food safety. Graphical abstract