Molecularly imprinted poly(N-vinyl imidazole) based polymers grafted onto nonwoven fabrics for recognition/removal of phloretic acid

A solution of N-vinyl imidazole (Vim), ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA), and phloretic acid (p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid, HPPA) as functional monomer, crosslinker and template, respectively, were used to graft molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) onto polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP) nonwoven fabric via gamma radiation at room temperature. Control grafted films were also synthesized using the same procedure in the absence of HPPA. Binding performance of the MIP grafts was investigated for different template molecule concentrations and contact time. An imprinting factor for the sample prepared at 5 kGy dose was determined as 2.41 for 50 ppm HPPA solution for 3-h incubation. MIP graft layers were investigated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) as well as SEM. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.