Bisphenol A Imprinted SiO2‐ZrO2 Mixed Oxide Materials Prepared by Acetic Anhydride Sol‐Gel Method

Abstract

Silica‐zirconia (SiO2‐ZrO2) materials including bisphenol A (BPA) were prepared by a sol‐gel method using tetraethoxysilane, zirconium complexes and acetic anhydride in organic solution. The removal of BPA from SiO2‐ZrO2 materials is expected to form BPA‐imprinted sites in the solid matrices. Both the molecular shape and the positions of OH groups of BPA were considered to be imprinted. The acidic sites induced by isomorphously substituted Zr atom in silica matrix play the role in recognizing the OH groups of BPA. A BPA imprinted SiO2‐ZrO2 material preferentially adsorbed BPA and steroid hormones from the mixed solution of other reference molecules.