Molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction for the analysis of 1,8-cineole in thyme and sagebrush distillates

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are polymers possessing receptor cavities with selective characteristics. The molecularly imprinted polymer of 1,8-cineole on hydroxyl-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes was synthesized for selective extraction of 1,8-cineole in water distillates of Artemisia sieberi (sagebrush) and thyme samples. The MIP was synthesized with cineole as template, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker and benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The main parameters affecting the synthesis of MIP and also the extraction efficiency of the analyte were optimized. The limit of detection of 1,8-cineole was as low as 0.04 μg/mL, while the dynamic linear range was found to be in the range of 0.125–100 µg/mL. The relative standard deviations (RSDs%) found for samples spiked at 1 and 70 µg/mL were 1.45–4.3%, respectively. The relative recoveries of the spiked samples at the above concentration levels were 93.8–98.2%.