Synthesis and Characterisation of a Monolithic Imprinted Column Using a Methacrylic Acid Monomer with Porogen Propanol for Atenolol Analysis

A monolithic imprinted atenolol column was constructed by in situ polymerisation using a methacrylic acid monomer and a 1 : 1 (v/v) porogen of propanol: toluene with two template: monomer: crosslinker combinations, namely, MIP 1 (1 : 4 : 20) and MIP 2 (1 : 5 : 20). Physical characterisation of the monolithic columns consisted of permeability testing, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) testing, surface area analysis (SAA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The permeability value of four monolithic columns was in the good category: MIP 1 (24.01 mD), NIP 1 (56.43 mD), MIP 2 (23.03 mD), and NIP 2 (14.47 mD). The polymerisation process of these four monolithic imprinted columns was carried out perfectly, as shown by the absence of vinyl groups (1000 cm(−1) and 900 cm(−1)) during FTIR testing. Based on SAA testing, the pores of the four polymers were classified as mesopores. The best monolithic column was MIP 1, as seen from the intercolumn and intracolumn reproducibility values and a % RSD <2.0%. The MIP 1 column was selective towards atenolol, as seen from the selectivity factor, imprinting factor (IF), and resolution (Rs) values. The IF values of MIP 1 were atenolol (204.62), metoprolol (3.36), and propranolol (1.27). The Rs value between atenolol and the analogue compounds was 7.23. The MIP 1 column can be used for the analysis of atenolol in blood serum samples with an average percentage recovery rate of 94.88 ± 4.43%.