Molecularly imprinted composite membranes for selective binding of desmetryn from aqueous solutions

Thin-layer molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) composite membranes for selective binding of triazine herbicide desmetryn from aqueous solutions were developed using photoinitiated copolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl1-propane sulphonic acid and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide in the presence of template, followed by a deposition of MIP layer on the surface of either hydrophobic or hydrophilically precoated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membranes. MIP membranes with different degrees of surface modification were prepared. It was shown MIP membranes provide a high selective binding of desmetryn from aqueous mixtures of structurally similar herbicides. It was concluded that MIP membrane binding specificity is a result of both multi-sites binding to the template via ionic and hydrophobic interactions and the correct position of functional groups involved in binding in imprints.

Thin-layer molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) composite membranes for selective binding of triazine herbicide desmetryn were prepared as deposits on the surface of PVDF membranes by using a coating of a α-scission type photoinitiator. The main advantage of this novel approach is the potential to synthesize MIPs by deposition/ coating on any kind of polymer support because no chemical reaction with the support material is involved. It was shown MIP membranes provide a high selective binding of desmetryn from aqueous mixtures of structurally similar herbicides. It was found out that MIP membrane binding specificity is a result of both multisites binding to the template via ionic and hydrophobic interactions and the correct position of functional groups involved in binding in imprints.