Covalent molecularly imprinted polymers for selective adsorption of plant growth stimulator 1-naphthaleneacetic acid

Abstract

In this work, we present the development and testing of new sorption materials for the adsorption of 1-naphta-leneacetic acid (NAA). Covalently prepared molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared as suitable materials. Molecular imprinting was performed using two different NAA derivatives: 4-vinylbenzyl 2-(naph-thalen-1-yl)acetate and N-methyl-2-(naphthalen-1-yl)-N-((4-vinylbenzoyl)oxy)acetamide. The prepared mono-mers bearing NAA fragment were subjected to polymerization, removal of template and the prepared MIPs were further characterized and tested. Both types were able of MIPs to catch out > 98% NAA from solution (10(-3) mol L-1) within 10 min and subsequently desorb it quantitatively. Both types of prepared MIPs can be used in at least 10 consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles. Ester-derived MIPs were also highly effective for continuous flow adsorption of 10(-2) mol L(-1 )NAA and showed certain level of selectivity for NAA in a mixture with anthranilic acid and/or salicylic acid.