Rapid and simple method for glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, and sarcosine pre-concentration and determination in environmental samples after molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction

This study presents a selective and efficient analytical method for the simultaneous determination of glyphosate (GLY), aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and sarcosine (SAR) in environmental water and honey samples using commercial molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MIP-SPE) coupled with tosyl chloride-based derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV). A central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize key extraction parameters, including pH, sample volume, flow rate, and analyte concentration. Under optimized conditions, extraction recoveries exceeded 98% for all analytes. Elution was optimized using 100 mM HCl, which provided superior recovery compared to basic eluents. The method showed excellent linearity (R2>0.99), low detection limits (<0.4 μgL-1), and high precision (RSD<1.5%). Application to real wastewater, river water, and honey samples confirmed high recoveries and minimal matrix interference. This validated MIP-SPE-HPLC-UV procedure provides a robust, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for monitoring trace levels of polar contaminants in complex matrices.