Facile synthesis of molecularly-imprinted magnetic-MoS2 nanosheets for selective and sensitive detection of ametryn

In the present study, a novel analytical method was developed for selective and sensitive detection of ametryn in tap and lake water samples based on molecular imprinting technology with high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. For this purpose, molecularly-imprinted magnetic MoS₂ (MIP@mag-MoS₂) particles were synthesized via surface initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The investigation of the rebinding properties, selective recognition ability, and reusability of the MIP@mag-MoS₂ demonstrated their high adsorption capacity, outstanding selectivity, rapid adsorption kinetics, and capability for multiple uses, with an imprinting factor of 4.39. The detection limits for ametryn were 0.031 µ g/L and 0.041 µ g/L in tap water and lake water, respectively. The proposed method also had high recovery percentage and low relative standard deviations for the water samples spiked with ametryn. The results suggest that the combination of mag-MoS₂ with MIP layer is a prospective alternative analytical method for quantification of ametryn.