Cross-linked polymers were prepared from several functional monomers and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM). The affinity of these functional polymers for ochratoxin A (OTA) in organic solution was evaluated by flow injection-solid phase extraction (FI-SPE) on a micro-column. Multiple loading injections of OTA through a microcolumn demonstrated that N-phenylacrylamide (PAM) yielded a cross-linked polymer with the highest affinity for OTA in a variety of media. The binding capacity and binding constant were calculated for poly(TRIM-PAM). This approach has proven to be more efficient than those empirical or modeling studies reported previously. It is also time-efficient compared to obtaining Klotz and Scatchard plots from batch binding experiments. Rapid OTA screening methods were developed, using both acetonitrile and water as mobile phases in FI-SPE. A mechanism is proposed for the OTA binding, pulsed elution, and re-conditioning of poly(TRIM-PAM). The functional polymer was last evaluated for stepped elution of OTA after FI-SPE. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.