Bisphenol A imprinted polymer adsorbents with selective recognition and binding characteristics

Imprinted copolymers, which highly recognized and bound bisphenol A (Bis A), were synthesized by using covalent imprinting technique. Bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BADM) was used as a template monomer in the copolymerization with a crosslinkable monomer of divinyl benzene (DVB), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) or N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA). The resultant copolymer was hydrolyzed in acidic or basic condition. It was found that the Bis A imprinted copolymers of EGDM and MBAA had no selectivity to Bis A, because the crosslinker dissociated by the hydrolysis reaction and thus comprehensive imprinted sites were not formed. On the other hand, imprinted copolymer of DVB showed excellent selectivity to differentiate Bis A from bisphenol E and bisphenol F (Bis F). Characterization of the copolymers suggested that the DVB copolymer had resistance to the acid and alkali conditions. Effect of recognition by the Bis F imprinted polymer was also compared with that of the Bis A imprinted polymer, when DVB and bisphenol F dimethacrylate were copolymerized. The Bis F imprinted copolymer was able to recognize Bis F in ethanol solution, however showed higher binding capacity for both Bis A and Bis F in water solution without recognition. Therefore, hydrophobic interaction between Bis A and the imprinted site enhanced the binding capacity with high selectively for the BADM-co-DVB imprinted copolymer.