Molecular imprinting solid phase extraction for selective detection of methidathion in olive oil

[Display omitted] ► Development of a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP), based on molecular modelling for methidathion (organophosphorus insecticide). ► Optimisation of a protocol of extraction based on molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE). ► Application of the optimised protocol for the extraction of methidathion from olive oil. A specific adsorbent for extraction of methidathion from olive oil was developed. The design of the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was based on the results of the computational screening of the library of polymerisable functional monomers. MIP was prepared by thermal polymerisation using N,N’-methylene bisacrylamide (MBAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross-linker. The polymers based on the itaconic acid (IA), methacrylic acid (MAA) and 2-(trifluoromethyl)acryl acid (TFMAA) functional monomers and one control polymer which was made without functional monomers with cross-linker EGDMA were also synthesised and tested. The performance of each polymer was compared using corresponding imprinting factor. As it was predicted by molecular modelling the best results were obtained for the MIP prepared with MBAA. The obtained MIP was optimised in solid-phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (MISPE-HPLC-UV) and tested for the rapid screening of methidathion in olive oil. The proposed method allowed the efficient extraction of methidathion for concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 9mgL−1 (r2=0.996). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) in olive oil were 0.02mgL−1 and 0.1mgL−1, respectively. MIPs extraction was much more effective than traditional C18 reverse-phase solid phase extraction.