PH-Responsive molecularly imprinted hollow spheres for selective separation of ribavirin from water samples

Abstract

A facile method is proposed to prepare pH-responsive molecularly imprinted hollow spheres (MIHS) for selective separation of ribavirin from water samples based on surface imprinting and boronate affinity. The polymerization conditions are optimized and the binding performance toward ribavirin is investigated. Benefiting from the hollow structure and the synergistic effect of surface imprinting and boronate affinity, the MIHS exhibit fast equilibrium kinetics of 18 min, excellent binding affinity of 12.30 mg g−1 as well as preferable reusability toward ribavirin. Moreover, the MIHS exhibit pH-sensitivity due to the interaction between boronate affinity and the cis-diol structure of the ribavirin. Finally, the MIHS are used to separate ribavirin from river water and bovine serum samples, and>90 % ribavirin is recovered. The as-prepared MIHS are expected to be a promising candidate for ribavirin separation in complex systems.