Preparation of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers functionalized carbon nanotubes for highly selective removal of aristolochic acid.

•MCNTs functionalized MIPs for aristolochic acid I (AAI) was prepared.•MCNTs@AAI-MIPs has fast adsorption kinetics, high selectivity and binding capacity.•A highly sensitive method was developed for determination of AAI.•MCNTs@AAI-MIPs were used for the removal of AAI from traditional Chinese medicine.