Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers integrated ionic liquids for targeted detecting diamide insecticides in environmental water by HPLC-UV following MSPE

Efficiently detecting diamide insecticides in environmental water is challenging due to their low concentrations and complex matrix interferences. In this study, we developed ionic liquids (ILs)-incorporated magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (IL-MMIPs) for the detection of diamide insecticides, capitalizing on the advantages of ILs and quick magnetic separation through surface imprinting. Tetrachlorantraniliprole was used as the template, and a specific IL, 1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([VEIm][PF6]), was employed as the functional monomer. Various synthesis conditions were investigated to optimize adsorption efficiency. The prepared IL-MMIPs were successfully employed as adsorbents in magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) to selectively extract, separate, and quantify three types of diamide insecticides from water samples using HPLC-UV detection. Under optimal conditions, the analytical method achieved low limits of detection (0.69 ng mL−1, 0.64 ng mL−1, 0.59 ng mL−1 for cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole and tetrachlorantraniliprole, respectively). The method also displayed a wide linear range (0.003–10 μg mL−1 for cyantraniliprole and chlorantraniliprole, and 0.004–10 μg mL−1 for tetrachlorantraniliprole, respectively) with satisfactory coefficients (R2≥0.9996), and low relative standard deviation (RSD≤2.55%). Additionally, extraction recoveries fell within the range of 79.4%–109%. The results clearly demonstrate that IL-MMIPs exhibit exceptional recognition and rebinding capabilities. The developed IL-MMIPs-MSPE-HPLC-UV method is straightforward and rapid, making it suitable for the detection and analysis of three kinds of diamide insecticides in environmental water.