Electrochemical detection of N‐nitrosodimethylamine using a molecular imprinted polymer

• Development of a portable impedimetric sensor for the quantification of NDMA.
• Synthesis of a MIP towards NDMA by precipitation polymerization method.
• Entrapment of MIP particles onto the sensor by pyrrole electropolymerization.
• Application of the sensor towards spiked water samples.

We report on the development of an impedimetric sensor towards the determination of N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water samples. The approach presented herein is based on the usage of a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) as the recognition element in conjunction with a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the electrochemical transducer. To this end, the MIP particles were first synthesized by the precipitation polymerization method, and afterwards entrapped in an electropolymerized polypyrrole membrane. The developed sensor showed a selective response towards NDMA with a linear range from 10 to 230 μg L−1 and a limit of detection of 0.85 μg L−1; without showing significant response towards structurally-related compounds. The MIP gave an order of magnitude higher sensitivity for NDMA detection than the non-imprinted polymer (NIP). Lastly, the developed sensor was applied to the determination of NDMA in spiked drinking and recycled water samples, obtained from conventional treatment and disinfection systems, without showing any matrix effect.

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