Determination of clenbuterol in pork and potable water samples by molecularly imprinted polymer through the use of covalent imprinting method

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for efficient separation and concentration of clenbuterol (CLB) was synthesized by covalent imprinting approach using CLB derivative as functional monomer. The MIPs synthesized were characterized by scanning electron microscope, nitrogen adsorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and thermo-gravimetric analysis. The binding experimental results showed that the MIPs synthesized had fast adsorption kinetic (20   min at 25   mg   L −1 ), high adsorption capacity and specific recognition ability for the analyte. In addition, the MIPs synthesized were successfully used as solid-phase sorbent for CLB sample preparation to be analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector. Under optimized experimental conditions, the linear range of the calibration curve was 5–80   μg   L −1 ( R 2   =   0.9938). The proposed method was also applied to the analysis of CLB in pork and potable water samples.