Online Preconcentration of Bisphenol A on a Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Sorbent and its Determination in Natural Media

Abstract

An original bench-scale installation based on the principles of online magnetic solid-phase extraction is developed. The setup includes a borosilicate glass column packed with Fe₃O₄@MIP-BPA, which is fixed with two neodymium magnets. Compared to using one magnet, a design with two magnets ensures the uniform distribution of the sorbent over the entire cross-section of the column. The highest concentration factors (EF = 3216) and the degree of desorption of bisphenol A (BPA) are achieved, respectively, at a volumetric solution flow rate (W) of 2.0 mL/min and with eluting BPA with methanol (W = 0.4 mL/min). The determination of BPA in concentrates from model media by GC−MS provides high sensitivity of the developed method for determining BPA. In analyzing model solutions prepared in distilled water, the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.3 ng/L. In analyzing river water, the LOD increases by approximately 2 times. In analyzing soils, LOD = 2.2 ng/kg dry weight. Soils, compared to water bodies, contain a larger number of interfering components; the sensitivity of the method is reduced by 7–8 times. Bottom sediments are even more contaminated; the LOD more than doubles compared to the determination of BPA in soils.