Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman: baseline report on occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment.

In the present study, 18 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds were measured in marine sediments collected from 49 offshore stations in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in 2019. After the last oceanographic cruise in 2006, no study has been performed on the offshore sediments of this region, and this is the first study on the PCBs in this area. The total amount of PCB compounds in the sediment samples ranged from 74.38 ng kg-1 (near Abu Musa Island) to 1212.98 ng kg-1 (near Siri and Kish Island). The maximum and minimum values of the individual detected PCB compounds were 175.88 ng kg-1 (PCB52) and 2.09 ng kg-1 (PCB156), respectively. The levels of total PCBs detected in sediments were lower than the Canadian interim sediment quality guideline value of 21500 ng kg-1 for marine sediments. The sedimentary mass inventories for Σ18PCBs were 0.6 and 0.2 mt for the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, respectively.

Combining theoretical concepts and Geographic Information System (GIS) to highlight source, risk, and hotspots of sedimentary PAHs: A case study of Chabahar Bay.

Sedimentary PAHs are regionalized variables and their levels, source, and ecological hazards must be discussed in relation to their spatial locations. Our research targeted GIS and Chabahar Bay-Iran to trace spatial variability of PAHs, improve the diagnostic ratios and receptor models in source identification, and determine hotspot of PAH-originated hazards. The entropy Voronoi map distinguished an "entropy strip" in which ∑22PAHs levels increased sharply. Different molecular signatures were individually interpolated and the indicative ratios of distinctive sources were extracted and summed by GIS. The resulting code map reduced potential disagreement among molecular signatures and highlighted the areas where petroleum inputs are prevalent. PCA-MLR analysis extracted three potential sources including fossil fuel combustion (54.36%), petrogenic inputs (29.03%), and vehicle exhaust emissions (16.61%). Interpolated risk layers were re-arranged and overlaid via Fuzzy Membership Functions. The obtained ''Fuzzy AND" map showed the hotspot of the study area in the vicinity of a seasonal estuary.

Nicotinamide-Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dot as New Sensing Platform for Portable Quantification of Vitamin B12 in Fluorescence, UV-Vis and Smartphone Triple Mode.

Development of an efficient, portable and simple nanosensor-based systems with reliable analytical performance for on-site monitoring of vitamin B12 (VB12) are still major problems and a challenging work for quality control of manufacturers. Herein, a new fluorescence, UV-Vis and smartphone triple mode nanosensors were designed for the simultaneous detection of VB12 with high sensitivity and accuracy. A novel nanosensor was synthesized through nicotinamide-functionalizing of carbon quantum dot (NA-CQDs) by an one-step microwave-assisted method with green approach. The NA-CQDs sensor showed excellent fluorescence properties and wide linear ranges from 0.1-60 µM with the detection limits of 31.7 nM. Moreover, color changes of NA-CQDs induced by the VB12 could also be detected by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and inhouse-developed application installed on smartphone as a signal reader, simultanusly. The Red, Green and Blue (RGB) intensities of the colorimetric images of NA-CQDs/VB12 system which taken by smartphone's camera converted into quantitative values by the application. A smartphone-integrated with NA-CQDs as colorimetric sensing platform displays good linear ranges (4.16 to 66.6 µM) for on-site determination of VB12 with detection limit of 1.40 µM. The method was successfully applied in the determination of VB12 in complex pharmaceutical supplement formulations without any sample pre-treatment and matrix interfering effects. The recovery results (96.52% to 105.10%) which were in agreement with the reference methods, demonstrating the capability of the smartphone-assisted colorimetric sensing platform in many on-site practical applications of quality controls.

Normal alkanes in sediments from the Persian Gulf: spatial pattern and implications for autochthonous, allochthonous, and petroleum-originated contaminants.

Surface sediments (n = 124) were gathered to evaluate spatial pattern and source apportionment of ∑24n-alkanes in the Persian Gulf. Moran's I indices revealed that ∑24n-alkanes were randomly distributed in sampling space in general. One noticeable exception was a significant spatial high-high cluster (Z-score = 8.6). Profile of n-alkanes observed for this cluster maximized at n-C20, n-C18, n-C16, and n-C22. Detection of very low carbon preference indices and strong even carbon-numbered predominance suggested that bacterial inputs were the process making this cluster. Based on diagnostic ratios and GIS techniques, in situ production of organic materials was widespread in the studied space. Allochthonous and petroleum-based inputs were not traceable for 73.8% and 24.7% of the area, respectively. Petrogenic source apportionment map proposed that petroleum-originated contaminants were probably limited to 6.32 km2 of the sampling matrix. The biogenic inputs (autochthonous and allochthonous inputs) and not the petroleum contaminants were the main source of n-alkanes deposited.

Rapid and sensitive fluorescence and smartphone dual-mode detection of dopamine based on nitrogen-boron co-doped carbon quantum dots.

A dual-mode fluorescence and colorimetric biosensor based on nitrogen-boron co-doped carbon quantum dot (N-B CQDs) for rapid and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA) was developed. The quantum dot luminescent materials, N-B CQDs, were prepared by a one-step microwave-assisted method. The N-B CQDs were characterized using SEM, HR-TEM, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, fluorescence, and UV-Vis techniques. The dual-mode assays of fluorescence and colorimetric methods were used for detection of DA. The high fluorescent N-B CQDs mediated turn-off assay for the facile room temperature detection of dopamine via inner filter effect (IFE) and Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes at basic pH. The colorimetric detection of DA was also developed via in-house android application using a smartphone and N-B CQD solution-based nanosensor. The smartphone-based colorimetric biosensors generated more reliable information for quantitative analysis of color changes than the naked eye. Furthermore, a smartphone application with N-B CQD solution-based nanosensor was integrated to monitor the color changes through the DA addition. Wide linear ranges were achieved for DA in the ranges 0.25-50 µM and 5-500 µM with fluorescence and smartphone-based method, respectively. The satisfactory results of the dual-mode detection of DA, not only in aqueous solution, but also in human urine and serum biological sample demonstrated its potential application in biosensing, as a point of care diagnostic tool. Graphical abstract.

Source, spatial distribution, and toxicity potential of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in sediments from Iran's environmentally hot zones, the Persian Gulf.

Surface sediments, sampled from Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf (n = 134), were analyzed in order to track spatial distribution of PAHs and their related eco-hazards. The levels of PAHs were in the range of 1.98-814 ng g-1 dw and the region was lowly to moderately polluted. The profile of PAHs was mainly composed of 2,3-ring chemicals and suggested a local source of PAHs and relatively fresh inputs. Statistical analysis and molecular fingerprints proposed that the basin receives PAHs from multiple origins including petrogenic and pyrogenic (traffic and auto emission) ones. Spatial distribution of organic matter and fine fraction of the sediments had a horizontally increasing trend in the studied basin. ∑16PAHs showed significant positive correlation with TOC and fine fraction (p < 0.05) and the spatial deposition of ∑16PAHs followed the spatial trends of TOC and fine fraction. Spatial mapping techniques confirmed that Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) is the hot zone of PAH pollution. A combination of source availability, finer sediments, and great organic matter levels were the main effective factors that highlighted the deposition of PAHs in the PSEEZ. The Nayband Bay, as the Iran's first national marine Park, possibly received PAHs from its adjacent zone, the PSEEZ. On the other hand, low organic matter and sandy nature of the Nayband Bay was not suitable for effective sequestration of PAHs. Thus, the biota of Nayband Park was encountering with relatively severe multiple eco-hazards due to both ecological and economic factors.

Betamethasone-based chiral electrochemical sensor coupled to chemometric methods for determination of mandelic acid enantiomers.

A chiral biosensing platform was developed using betamethasone (BMZ) as chiral recognition element through multilayered electrochemical deposition of BMZ, overoxidized polypyrrole, and nanosheets of graphene (OPPy-BMZ/GR), for enantio-recognition of mandelic acid (MA) enantiomers. The deposited film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was shown that the chiral sensing platform can discriminate R- and S-MA differential pulse voltammetry signals, at the voltages of 1.35 and 1.33 V (vs Ag/AgCl), respectively. To tackle the problem of highly overlapping peaks of these enantiomers, the partial least squares (PLS) regression and genetic algorithm-PLS (GA-PLS) were used for simultaneous quantification of MA enantiomers. Generally, variable selection by genetic algorithm provided an improvement in prediction results when compared to full-voltammogram PLS. Good analytical performances were obtained despite the inherent complexity of the simultaneous determination.

Polyimide-coated magnetic nanoparticles as a sorbent in the solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater samples.

Magnetic polyimide poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized and developed for the solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater samples. The aromatic rings of polyimide coating provided a good adsorption capacity (28.3-42.5 mg/g) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons because of the π-π stacking interaction. The developed method was used as a simple, fast, and efficient extraction and preconcentration technique for the trace analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The high chemical, physical and thermal stability, excellent reusability, and good magnetic properties are the merits of the sorbent. High preconcentration factors (41-63) were obtained. The sorbent was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. After optimizing several appropriate extraction parameters, the results indicated that the extraction recoveries of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were in the range of 61.6-94.7%, with relative standard deviations between 2.9 and 5.4%, the calibration graph was linear in the concentration range of 1-100 µg/L (r > 0.9991) with limit of detection in the range of 0.15-0.19 µg/L (n = 3). Seawater samples were analyzed as real samples and good recoveries (68.5-99.5%) were obtained at different spiked values.

Magnetic nanocomposite of self-doped polyaniline-graphene as a novel sorbent for solid-phase extraction.

This work is the first study on the extraction efficiency of self-doped polyaniline that is immobilized on the graphene-modified magnetic nanoparticles. The new material was used as a sorbent for the magnetic solid-phase extraction of methyl-, propyl-, and butylparabens. The use of graphene provides a high surface area and prevents aggregation of the nanoparticles. The self-doped polyaniline also provides multifunctionality, high extraction capacity, and chemical stability even in the basic medium. The parabens were acetylated for determination by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The effects of monomer ratio, extraction solvent, sorbent amount, sample volume, desorption solvent volume, adsorption and desorption times, and sample ionic strength were optimized. Preconcentration factors obtained were from 190 to 310. The detection limits of the method were <2.8 µg/L. Linear ranges of the method were 5-2000 µg/L for propyl and butyl parabens, and 10-2000 µg/L for methyl paraben. The method was applied for the determination of the parabens in cosmetic products and extraction recoveries were 89-101% with RSDs ≤7.9%.

Determination of residual nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in aqueous sample using magnetic nanoparticles modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by high performance liquid chromatography.

A simple and sensitive solid-phase extraction method for separation and preconcentration of trace amount of four nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, and ibuprofen) using Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide has been developed. For this purpose, the surface of MNPs was modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant. Effects of different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of drugs including the pH, amount of salt, shaking time, eluent type, the volume of solvent, amount of adsorbent, sample volume, and the time of desorption were investigated and optimized. Methanol has been used as desorption solvent and the extracts were analysed on a reversed-phase octadecyl silica column using 0.02 M phosphate-buffer (pH = 6.02) acetonitrile (65 : 35 v/v) as the mobile phase and the effluents were measured at 202 nm with ultraviolet detector. The relative standard deviation (RSD%) of the method was investigated at three concentrations (25, 50, and 200 ng/mL) and was in the range of 3.98-9.83% (n = 6) for 50 ng/mL. The calibration curves obtained for studied drugs show reasonable linearity (R (2) > 0.99) and the limit of detection (LODs) ranged between 2 and 7 ng/mL. Finally, the proposed method has been effectively employed in extraction and determination of the drugs in biological and environmental samples.

Investigation on proteolysis and formation of volatile compounds of Lighvan cheese during ripening.

The volatile compounds and protein profiles of Lighvan cheese, (raw traditional sheep cheese) were investigated over a 90-days ripening period. Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [SPME-GC-MS] and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] were used to identify volatile compounds and assess proteolysis assessment, respectively. Ripening breakdown products viz., acids (butanoic acid, 3 methyl butanoic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, decanoic acid,…) comprised of the highest number of detected individual compounds (10) followed by esters (9), alcohols (7), cyclic aromatic compounds (6), ketones (5) and aldehydes (4). Carboxylic acids were the dominant identified group; their levels increased during ripening and involved 48.22 % of the total volatile compounds at the end (90 days) of ripening. Esters, ketones, cyclic aromatic compounds and aldehydes also increased, whereas the alcohol content slightly decreased towards the end of the ripening. Degradation of ß- and αS- casein was higher during the initial stage of ripening (1st month) of ripening than at later stages, which could be related to the inhibitory effect of salt on some bacteria and proteolytic enzymes.

Origin and comprehensive risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments along the Caspian Sea.

Metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, As, Pb, Ni, V, and Co) in surface sediments were determined in the southern Caspian Sea. Sediment pollution was investigated using geochemical index such as Enrichment Factor (EF) and ecological risk indices like modified Hazard Quotient (mHQ) and Toxic Risk Index (TRI). The highest calculated geochemical index was observed in sediments near the cities of Chalus and Ramsar, which are highly polluted due to human activities. The ecological potential indices indicated that Ni contents in all the studied stations would impose harmful effects on aquatic organisms, while other metals had a low risk. Principal component and cluster analyses suggested that As and Pb emanated from anthropogenic sources, and other metals probably originated from lithogenic sources.

Surface microplastics dynamics in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea using numerical modelling and CYGNSS satellite estimations.

Microplastics have long-term negative effects on marine environment. One of the most significant threats of microplastics is their ability to absorb chemicals which enhances the transfer of pollutants. These pollutants eventually enter the tissues of living organisms e.g. through ingestion. To shed a light on the way these particles accumulate in the surface water of Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea and the spatial and temporal distribution of their concentrations, a combination of field sampling, remote sensing techniques, and numerical modelling methods were used. Samples were collected using a Neuston net at 31 stations in 2018 and 2021. A hydrodynamic model was used to study the transport of these materials by tide, wind and density-driven currents, and microplastic pathways were mapped. Also, CYGNSS satellite data were used to estimate the particles concentration by measuring the roughness of the ocean surface. It was shown that the northeastern part of the Arabian Sea had the highest concentration of microplastics in winter. Oman's northern border and the Strait of Hormuz had relatively higher concentrations than other parts. This accumulation increases in winter and continues to rise until the end of summer. In autumn, the accumulation decreases, but it begins to increase again in the north of Oman during winter. During winter, the southern part of the Persian Gulf had high concentration, while from summer to autumn, the concentration in the northwest region had increased. In 2021, the average microplastic concentration in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman varied seasonally from 2.6x104 to 1.8x104 particle per km2. Meanwhile, the average concentration of pollutants in the Persian Gulf was almost invariable throughout the year, ranging from 2.8 x104 to 2.6 x104 particle per km2. Furthermore, the study reveals that these concentrations are influenced by various environmental factors. In the Persian Gulf, water density is the most significant factor controlling the surface concentration of microplastics, while in the Arabian Sea, the interaction of wind speed and sea surface currents is crucial.

Distribution of hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen and phosphorous species in inshore and offshore sediments of the south Caspian Sea.

This study aimed to geochemically investigate the sediments of the south Caspian Sea at different depths in summer and winter 2020. Sampling was conducted in 5 transects along the south coastline of the Caspian Sea and sediment grain size, hydrogen sulfide, Oxidation-reduction potential (Eh), total nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, total phosphorus, organic and inorganic phosphorous were measured. Eh values showed significant differences between seasons and between different transects (p < 0.05). Hydrogen sulfide ranged from 1.87 to 307.00 ppm. No significant difference was observed in hydrogen sulfide between seasons and among depths (p > 0.05). Total, inorganic and organic phosphorus contents were 782.96-1335.79 ppm, 639.66-1183.60 ppm, and 42.58-205.46 ppm, respectively. Total nitrogen revealed significant differences among transects (p < 0.05). Based on sediment quality guidelines, most sampling sites had alerting conditions for organic matter, and phosphorous contamination was detected at all stations. Anoxic condition was seen at most sites according to sedimentary Eh.

Basin scale monitoring of microplastics and phthalates in sediments from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Makran using GIS-based algorithms: Insights towards spatial variation and potential risk assessment.

Information on sedimentary microplastics and phthalates has been restricted to the coastal regions of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Makran. Our basin-wide study monitored their levels, spatial behaviors, and potential risks using GIS-based techniques. Microplastics and phthalates ranged from 5 to 75 particles/kg d.w and 0.004-1.219 µg g-1 d.w, respectively. Microplastics were in the size category of 100 µm to 3 mm, and black microfibers (< 1 mm) and high-density polymers were dominant. The total number of microplastics was between 356.333 × 1012 and 469.075 × 1012 particles in the surface sediments of the studied regions (confidence interval = 99 %). Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and Di-isobutyl phthalate contributed 88 % of detected phthalates. Significant correlations among microplastic abundance, total phthalates, and DEHP were distinguished (p < 0.05). Overall, the findings reiterated the widespread presence of microplastics and a potential link between phthalates and microplastics. Semi-variogram, cluster Voronoi polygons, and Trend analysis identified spatial outliers and major deposition sites of microplastics and phthalates and consequently outlined the localities where upcoming studies should be concentrated. A hotspot of potential risks was marked using Fuzzy logic and GIS-based algorithms in the Sea of Makran, covering an area equal to 342. 99 km2.

Effect of zinc nanoparticles on the growth and biofortification capability of mungbean (Vigna radiata) seedlings.

Zinc insufficiency is a nutritional trouble worldwide, especially in developing countries. In the current study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of MS media culture with different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 ppm) on growth, nutrient uptake, and some physiological parameters of 7-days-old mung bean seedlings. ZnO NPs enhanced the Zn concentration of mung bean from 106.41 in control to more than 4600 µg/g dry weight in 80 and 160 ppm ZnO NPs treated seedlings. Our results showed that ZnO NPs in the concentration range from 10 to 20 ppm had a positive influence on growth parameters and photosynthetic pigments. Higher levels of ZnO NPs negatively affected seedling's growth by triggering oxidative stress which in turn caused enhancing antioxidative response in seedlings including polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity as well as phenolic compounds and anthocyanine contents. Considering the positive effects of ZnO NPs treatment on mungbean seedlings growth, micronutrents, protein and shoot phenolics content, 20 ppm is recommended as the optimal concentration for biofortification. Our findings confirm the capability of ZnO NPs in the remarkable increase of Zn content of mungbean seedlings which can be an efficient way for plant biofortification and dealing with environmental stress. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11756-022-01269-3.

Sources and hotspots of microplastics of the rivers ending to the southern Caspian Sea.

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in beach sediments of the southern Caspian Sea was well documented, however, there are still many unknowns about the abundances and distributions of MPs in the rivers ending to the Caspian Sea. Here, bank sediments of 26 sites in the thirteen rivers were surveyed in two seasons. However, there was not any significant difference (p > 0.05) between the concentrations of MPs during the two seasons. MPs were detected in all samples with mean concentrations of 214.08 ± 14.35 MPs/kg. The most common size, shape, color, and polymer types of MPs were L < 300 µm, fragment/film, white/transparent, and polystyrene (PS), respectively. In all rivers, positive MP gradients from upstream to downstream were observed. Maximum concentrations of MPs were found in the downstream parts of Chalus, Haraz, and Safarud rivers. Recreational-tourism and fishing activities had significant positive relationships (p < 0.05) with concentration of MPs in the rivers.

Curcumin-Melamine For Solid-Phase Microextraction of Volatile Organic Compounds from Aqueous Samples.

The hybrid coating of curcumin and melamine was prepared by a simple electrochemical method. Some physical and chemical properties of the fiber were studied by several methods such as FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The fiber was stable at the inlet of a gas chromatograph at temperatures up to 280°C. The fiber has been used for the extraction of ethylbenzene, toluene and xylenes (ETX). Some parameters of headspace solid-phase microextraction, including extraction time, temperature and salt amount, were optimized. Under the optimized situation, the detection limits were 0.15-0.21 µg L -1 and the linear ranges were within the range of 0.5-1,000 µg L-1 (r2 ≥ 0.99). The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were 10.2-13.7 and 13.0-15.6%, respectively, at a concentration level of 10 µg L-1 from each compound by applying a single fiber. The method was used to successfully analyze wastewater and pool water samples.

Distribution of microplastics in upstream and downstream surface waters of the Iranian rivers discharging to the southern Caspian Sea.

Microplastic pollution in the riverine ecosystems has caught many attentions in the scientific literatures. However, little information is available about the abundance and distribution of microplastics of the rivers discharging to the Caspian Sea. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics in the surface waters of thirteen rivers discharging to the southern Caspian Sea. Microplastics were found in all stations with uneven distributions. The average concentrations of microplastics in the stations during snowmelt and dry seasons were 1.406 ± 0.1380 microplastics/m3 and 0.4070 ± 0.01500 microplastics/m3, respectively. Positive gradients of the rivers microplastics concentration from upstream to downstream were found. White/transparent polyethylene (PE) particles with the shape of fragment/film and the length (L) of ≤ 1 mm were the most common microplastics in the surface waters of the rivers discharging to the southern Caspian Sea. Also, the mean concentration of microplastics in spring snowmelt and runoff period was 3.45 times higher than in dry period. Factors such as sewage and household wastes; landfills; and recreational-tourism, fishing and agricultural activities along the rivers may contribute to microplastic contamination in downstream stations. Our data provide baseline information of microplastics in surface waters of rivers discharging to the southern Caspian Sea.

Selective adsorption of 2,4-dinitrophenol on molecularly imprinted nanocomposites of mesoporous silica SBA-15/polyaniline.

Surface imprinting and adoption of a nano-sized physical form are two effective approaches to overcome the template transfer difficulty within molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). This work is an attempt to conquer the problem of template transfer difficulty within MIPs by using a nano-reactor as a substrate for the reaction between the monomer and the template. Negatively charged hexagonal nano-channels of SBA-15 can act as a support for attachment of positively charged aniline monomers and the 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) template. The imprinted and non-imprinted SBA-15/polyaniline nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results showed that the synthesized polymer possessed a highly ordered mesoporous structure. The distribution coefficient values of 2,4-DNP, K(d (2,4-DNP)), were estimated as 301.4 ± 2.3 and 101.2 ± 1.0 mL g(-1) for imprinted and non-imprinted polymers (NIP), respectively. The MIP-solid-phase extraction (SPE) process was optimized by evaluating the type of washing solvent and the composition and volume of the eluting solvent. The prepared MIP was used as a selective sorbent for SPE of 2,4-DNP in the presence of phenolic compounds in tap and sea water. The experimental results indicated that the MIP-SPE and NIP-SPE column yielded recoveries higher than 96% and 38%, respectively. The R.S.D. values were also lower than 3.2% and 4.6% for MIP-SPE and NIP-SPE, respectively.