Removal of phenolic compounds with nitrophenol-imprinted polymer based on π-π and hydrogen-bonding interactions

This work describes a method for the removal of phenolic compounds with a nitrophenol-imprinted polymer from aqueous solution by newly functional monomer, methacrylamidoantipyrine (MAAP), which has π-π and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Nitrophenol-imprinted polymers were prepared in a bulk, photo-initiated polymerization by the methods of MAAP which has both π-π and hydrogen-bonding interactions and methacrylic acid (MAA) which only has hydrogen bonding, imprinting. The adsorption capacity for nitrophenol and other phenolic compounds onto molecularly imprinted adsorbents (MIPs) was found to significantly depend on the use of functional monomers. The maximum adsorptions of phenolic compounds onto imprinted beads were 173 μmol/g for MAAP and 97 μmol/g for MAA-based imprinted polymers. The pH significantly affected the adsorption capacity of MIPs. The selectivities were measured by comparing the relative selectivity coefficient under competetive adsorption conditions. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved