(560f) Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Estrogenic Pollutants Removal

A synthetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sorbent for estrogenic compounds was prepared using a non-covalent imprinting technique. MIP microspheres sized from 1 to 2 micron were synthesized in acetonitrile by using estrogens as the template, acrylamide as the functional monomer, and trimethylpropanol trimethacrylate as the crosslinker. When compared with the non-imprinted polymer (NIP), the MIP showed outstanding affinity towards the templates, alpha-estradiol and beta-estradiol in aqueous solution with a binding site capacity (Bmax) of 380 nmol mg-1 for alpha-and beta-estradiol, respectively, and imprinting effect of 35 and a dissociation constant (Kd) of 38 muM. Similarly, with binding site concentration (Bmax) of 86 nmol mg-1, and outstanding imprinting effect of 27 was achieved for beta-estradiol. The MIPs exhibited significant binding affinity towards other related estrogenic compounds such as diethylstilbestrol, estriol and estrone, suggesting that this material may be appropriate for treating a complex mixture of estrogenic pollutants. The feasibility of removing estrogenic compounds from environmental water by the MIP was demonstrated using lake water spiked with estradiols. In addition, the MIP reusability without any deterioration in performance was demonstrated for at least 5 repeated cycles.