Solid phase extraction using molecular imprinted polymers for phthalate determination in water and wine samples by HPLC-ESI-MS

A method for the determination of four phthalates in water and wine samples by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed. The four phthalates studied were dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP). A preconcentration step was necessary due to the low levels of these compounds in the samples studied. Solid phase extraction (SPE) using a Molecularly Imprinting Polymer (MIP) was selected as a preconcentration technique. The MIP was prepared via precipitation polymerization using DBP as template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a monomer, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as crosslinking agent, acetonitrile as porogen, and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The preconcentration factors obtained were 6.25 and 25 for water and wine samples, respectively. The SPE procedure coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry provides high sensitivity and good precision. The method was used for the determination of these phthalates in water samples (bottled in plastic bottles) and wine samples (bottled in Tetra brik packages).