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Efficiency of a molecularly imprinted polymer for selective removal of phenols and phenoxyacids from contaminated waters
Herrero-Hernández, E.; Rodríguez-Gonzalo, E.; Rodríguez-Cruz, M. S.; Carabias-Martínez, R. & Sánchez-Martín, M. J.
Abstract
The efficiency and the reuse of a bisphenol-A
molecularly imprinted polymer (BPA-MIP) were evaluated
for the selective removal of several phenolic compounds
and phenoxyacid herbicides from environmental water
samples. The proper sorption and selective recognition
ability of the MIP were studied in aqueous solution by the
batch equilibrium technique. Furthermore, removal of the
analytes studied by the MIP was carried out from river, tap
and ground waters, and different factors, such as the
sample volume, the solution pH or the analyte concentration
in the sample, were studied. Results obtained indicated
a rapid sorption of analytes by the MIP, being the sorption
dependent on the concentration of analyte in the solution.
The MIP showed an excellent affinity toward phenolic
compounds and phenoxyacid herbicides, and removal
efficiencies of over 70 % were achieved in aqueous solution.
Removal efficiency was not affected by the pH or by
the water type, although it was affected by the volume of
water especially for nitrophenols when amounts in solution
were ≥1 mg. Removal efficiencies recorded by the MIP for
the highest volume of water assayed were around 20 %
higher than those obtained with traditional sorbents for
chlorophenols and bisphenols, and similar removal efficiencies
were obtained for phenoxyacid herbicides. The use
of the MIP provided a selective, simple, reliable and viable
solution for removing these compounds from water, and it
could be re-used at least 20 times without losing any
removal efficiency.
Keywords
Molecularly imprinted polymers; Phenols; Phenoxyacids; Selective removal; Water treatment
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