Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) with high performance in selectively recognizing bisphenol A (BPA) were prepared by using a novel and facile surface molecular-imprinting technique. Vinyl-functionalized, monodispersed silica spheres were synthesized by a one-step emulsion reaction in aqueous solution. Then, BPA surface molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIP) were prepared by polymerization with 4-vinylpyridine as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the crosslinker. Maximal sorption capacity (Qmax) of the resulting SMIP was up to 600 mol g1, while that of nonimprinted polymers was only 314.68 mol g1. Kinetic binding study showed that sorption capacity reached 70% of Qmax in 20 min and sorption equilibrium at 80 min. SMIP had excellent accessibility and affinity toward BPA, for the selectivity coefficients of SMIP for BPA in respect to phenol, p-tert-butylphenol, and o-phenylphenol were 3.39, 3.35, and 3.02, respectively. The reusage process verified the SMIP owning admirably stable adsorption capacity toward BPA for eight times. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013