A molecularly imprinted polymer for solid phase extraction of allantoin

We describe a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the solid-phase extraction of the skin protectant allantoin. The MIP was deposited on the surface of monodisperse silica microspheres possessing acroyl groups on the surface (MH-SiO 2 ). The resulting MIP microspheres (MH-SiO 2 @MIP) showed a 3.4-fold higher adsorption capacity and a 1.9-fold better selectivity for allantoin than the respective non-imprinted polymer (MH-SiO 2 @NIP). The monolayer adsorption capacities of the MH-SiO 2 @MIP and the MH-SiO 2 @NIP were calculated with the help of the Langmuir model and found to be 6.8 and 1.9 mg•g −1 , respectively. Adsorption kinetics fit a pseudo-second order rate mechanism, with an initial adsorption rate of 1.44 for the MH-SiO 2 @MIP, and of 0.07 mg•g −1 •min −1 for the MH-SiO 2 @NIP. The material can be regenerated, and its adsorption capacity for allantoin remains stable for at least five regeneration cycles. It was successfully used as a sorbent for the selective solid-phase extraction of allantoin from Rhizoma dioscoreae . A molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective separation of allantoin was developed. It was successfully used as a sorbent for the selective solid-phase extraction of allantoin from Rhizoma dioscoreae .