Exploratory Assessment of Ionic Liquid-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Potential Acrylamide Binding from Coffee Beverage

Acrylamide (AA) is a heat-induced process contaminant of toxicological concern associated with potential health risks. Its selective removal from complex food matrices, such as coffee brew, while preserving quality, remains a major technological challenge. This study explored an ionic liquid-based molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) process for potential AA binding, combining molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) synthesized from polymerizable ionic liquid monomers with a packed-bed format. The effect of MISPE on coffee quality was examined through pH, total dissolved solids, colorimetric parameters and browning index. Among the four synthesized materials based on 2-(dimethylammonium) ethyl methacrylate [H-DMAEMA] and 2-(trimethylammonium) ethyl acrylate, the MIP synthesized with [H-DMAEMA] acetate exhibited the highest affinity toward AA in aqueous solution (dynamic imprinting factor: 1.72) and well-defined adsorption–desorption behavior fitted to the Boltzmann model. When applied to coffee brew, the MISPE process preserved physicochemical related parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids, and color. However, AA levels remained unchanged, likely due to competitive interactions with abundant macromolecules such as melanoidins and polysaccharides. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of ionic liquid-based imprinting for AA recognition in aqueous systems and highlight the physicochemical complexity of coffee as a model matrix for optimizing selective extraction strategies. Graphic abstract