Preconcentration of bisphenols by using calix[4]arene derivatives modified porous polymer monolith coupled with HPLC

A functionalized calix[4]arene (alkenyl@C[4]A) was introduced into the poly(butyl methacrylate-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith inside a capillary to prepare a polymer monolith microextraction (PMME) material (poly(BMA-alkenyl@C[4]A-EDMA)). Various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermo-gravimetric analysis, were employed to characterize the synthesized poly(BMA-alkenyl@C[4]A-EDMA) monoliths. A new method was developed for the preconcentration and analysis of bisphenols using PMME coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Under the optimized conditions, the monolithic column afforded acceptable linearities, low limits of detection, and good intra-day/inter-day relative standard deviations. The method was applied to the determination of bisphenols in human serum samples with recoveries ranged from 77.6% to 109.7%.