A new type of magnetic halloysite nanotubes molecularly imprinted polymer (MHNTs@MIP) based on halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with embedded magnetic nanoparticles was introduced in this study. MHNTs@MIP was prepared through surface imprinting technology, using 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) as a template, 4-vinylpyridine as the monomer, divinylbenzene as cross-linking agents, and 2,2-azoditsobutyronitrile as initiator. MHNTs@MIP was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometer. MHNTs@MIP exhibited rapid and reliable analysis with supermagnetic properties, as well as repeated use and template-specific recognition. The adsorption capacity of magnetic halloysite nanotubes non-imprinted polymer (MHNTs@NIP) and MHNTs@MIP was 10.3 mg/g and 35.2 mg/g, respectively. In the detailed discussion on specific selectivity, MHNTs@MIP can be applied as an adsorbent for sample pretreatment extraction and obtain high recoveries of about 85-94%. After extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography was used to detect 2,4-D residue in water. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.