Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were synthesized for selective recognition and rapid enrichment of indole from a model fuel. The MMIPs were synthesized by precipitation polymerization and a surface molecular imprinting technique, using indole as the template molecule, Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles as magnetically susceptible components, methylacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker. The properties of the MMIPs were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The adsorption capacity of indole-molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was 50.25 mg g −1 at 303 K and reached adsorption equilibrium in a short time. Experimental data were modeled with a pseudo-second-order, Langmuir isotherm model. The selective adsorption performance of MIPs was favorable. C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Technol 2015, 0, 21596; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com.