Enantioseparation on molecularly imprinted monoliths-Preparation and adsorption isotherms

In this paper we report the synthesis of monolithic molecularly imprinted polymers (monolithic MIPs) for the chromatographic separation of Z-phenylalanine by “in situ” polymerisation. Four different functional monomers were used for the preparation and the columns were tested with a standard mobile phase of 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile. 4-Vinylpyridine has shown the best separation performance with a resolution factor R>1 and was chosen for a further improvement of the imprinted stationary phase, which leads to a resolution factor R=2.06. All monoliths investigated have surface areas of around 400 m2 g−1. The columns containing 4-vinylpyridine as functional monomer were characterised by frontal analysis and peak fitting method. These methods allow the determination of the adsorption isotherm which quantify the separation potential of the imprinted monoliths.