An Automated Method for the Selective Solid Phase Extraction of Zearalenone from Wheat Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Zearalenone [6-(10-hydroxy-6-oxo-trans-1-undecenyl)-ß-resorcyclic acid lactone] is a mycotoxin produced as a secondary metabolite of various Fusarium fungi, and has been detected in a variety of cereal products such as wheat, maize, barley, oats, rice and sorghum as well as beer that has been produced with contaminated grains. This study describes the automated solid phase extraction (SPE) of ZON from wheat using a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) SPE cartridge that is highly specific for Zearalenone and the Gilson GX-271 ASPEC™.