Macroporous molecularly imprinted polymer/cryogel composite systems for the removal of endocrine disrupting trace contaminants

A new concept for the preparation of selective sorbents with high flow path properties is presented by embedding molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) into various macroporous gels (MGs). A MIP was first synthetized with 17β-estradiol (E2) as template for the selective adsorption of this endocrine disrupter. The composite macroporous gel/MIP (MG/MIP) monoliths were then prepared at subzero temperatures. Complete recovery of E2 from a 2 μg/L aqueous solution was achieved using the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) MG/MIP monoliths whereas only 49–74% was removed with non-imprinted polymers (when no template was used). The PVA MG/MIP monolith columns were operated at almost 10 times higher flow rate (50 mL/min) compared to the MIP columns with operation flow rate of 1–5 mL/min. The possibility for processing the particulate containing wastewater effluents at high flow rates with selectivity on E2 removal, as well as the easy preparation of the monoliths, make the macroporous MG/MIP systems attractive and robust sorbents for the clean up of water from endocrine disrupting trace contaminants.