Analysis of Nicotine and Its Oxidation Products in Nicotine Chewing Gum by a Molecularly Imprinted Solid-Phase Extraction

Chromatographic stationary phases showing exceptional selectivity for nicotine can be prepared by the technique of molecular imprinting. Such phases were used in the search for a rapid cleanup step for nicotine and some of its oxidation products in chewing gum formulations. Thus, using an organic mobile phase, the nicotine analytes from chewing gums dissolved in nonpolar solvent were retained, whereas the nonpolar matrix eluted close to the void peak. A subsequent switch to an acidic mobile phase resulted in elution of the analytes as one sharp peak. Due to weak binding of the less basic oxidation products, other imprinted polymers were tested, and the solid-phase extraction procedure was o…