Synthesis and application of magnetic-surfaced pseudo molecularly imprinted polymers for zearalenone pretreatment in cereal samples

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a fungal contaminant widely found in grains. In cereal samples, trace zearalenone was extracted and enriched using magnetic-surfaced pseudo molecularly imprinted polymers (SPMIPs) and detected. SPMIPs were prepared with Fe 3 O 4 as the magnetic core, modified halloysites nanotubes as supporting materials, and selective imprinted polymers as shells. Vinyl was modified on the surface of halloysites nanotube. SPMIPs were synthesized with pseudo templates. SPMIPs as the adsorbent of dispersed-solid phase extraction (μ-SPE) were used to purify and enrich ZEA from maize samples. After optimized, the pretreatment method was evaluated. The linearity of the method was ranged within 10–200 ng mL −1 . LOD and LOQ were 2.5 ng mL −1 and 8 ng mL −1 respectively. The ZEA spiking recoveries in maize samples ranged within 74.95–88.41% were with good RSDs lower than 4.25%. The developed method was successful applied in maize, oat, and wheat sample treatments and compared.