Enhancing adsorptive separations by molecularly imprinted polymers: Role of imprinting techniques and system parameters

Abstract

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are gaining increasing importance in separation technology. We recently proposed the application of MIPs for the removal of trace impurities from bulk chemicals. In this communication, we report on the separation of phenol–bisphenol-A (BPA) and 2,4-dihydroxy benzophenone isomers (2,4-DHB) using surface as well as bulk imprinted polymeric adsorbents. The choice of polymer support, imprinting technique and solvent has been shown to influence the separation achieved. The results provide important guidelines for the design of molecularly imprinted adsorbents for specific separations.