Molecularly imprinted polymer on carbon microsphere surfaces for adsorbing dibenzothiophene

The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on the surface of carbon microspheres (CMSs), which were modified by acid and silylation treatment, was obtained by using dibenzothiophene (DBT) as template, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linking agent and azoisobutyronitrile as initiator. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the MIP-CMSs. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics of DBT on MIP-CMSs were investigated. The preliminary results show that MIP-CMSs possessed good recognition toward DBT, that is, the adsorption equilibrium time was about 5 h and the equilibrium adsorption amount was 0.595 mmol/g. The mechanism for adsorption of DBT onto MIP-CMSs was found to follow Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order model.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Molecularly imprinted polymer on carbon microsphere surfaces was obtained for adsorbing dibenzothiophene. ► The adsorption equilibrium time was ∼5 h and the equilibrium adsorption amount was 0.595 mmol/g. ► This novel surface molecular imprinted material with priority adsorption is of importance for deep desulfurization of oil. ► The adsorption mechanism followed Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order model.