Selective recognition and removal of chlorophenols from aqueous solution using molecularly imprinted polymer prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for selective recognition and removal of chlorophenols from contaminated water was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using RAFT agent functionalized silica gel as the chain transfer agent. The prepared MIP nano-film hybrid silica gel (silica-MIP) was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and BET adsorption isotherm analysis. The proper adsorption and selective recognition ability of the silica-MIP were studied by an equilibrium-adsorption method. The resulting silica-MIP showed outstanding affinity towards 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in aqueous solution. The silica-MIP bind the original template 2,4-DCP with an appreciable selectivity over structurally related compounds, and the molecular recognition of 2,4-DCP was analyzed in detail.