| Abstract: | Tetracyclines are widely used antibiotics classified as emerging pollutants and may lead to an increase in bacterial resistance in the environment. In order to determine these compounds at low concentrations, a water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymer was developed for solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The monomers 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and glycerol dimethacrylate were added 1 h after the start of the synthesis to provide hydroxyl groups on the polymer surface. This hydrophilic layer established hydrogen bonds with water, minimizing interferences of this solvent in the analyte-polymer complex, increasing analyte adsorption. The polymer was then used for solid-phase extraction to preconcentrate the tetracyclines. The method provided low limits of quantification (5 µg L?1), good linearity, precision, and accuracy for tetracyclines, with preconcentration factors of 14, 19, 29, and 41 for oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline, respectively. |
