Selective adsorption behavior of Cd(II) ion imprinted polymers synthesized by microwave-assisted inverse emulsion polymerization: Adsorption performance and mechanism

Application Prospect of Ion-Imprinted Polymers in Harmless Treatment of Heavy Metal Wastewater

With the rapid development of industry, the discharge of heavy metal-containing wastewater poses a significant threat to aquatic and terrestrial environments as well as human health. This paper provides a brief introduction to the basic principles of ion-imprinted polymer preparation and focuses on the interaction between template ions and functional monomers. We summarized the current research status on typical heavy metal ions, such as Cu(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cr(VI), as well as metalloid metal ions of the As and Sb classes. Furthermore, it discusses recent advances in multi-ion-imprinted polymers. Finally, the paper addresses the challenges faced by ion-imprinted technology and explores its prospects for application.

Biopolymer-based beads for the adsorptive removal of organic pollutants from wastewater: Current state and future perspectives

Among biopolymer-based adsorbents, composites in the form of beads have shown promising results in terms of high adsorption capacity and ease of separation from the effluents. This review addresses the potential of biopolymer-based beads to remediate wastewaters polluted with emerging organic contaminants, for instance dyes, active pharmaceutical ingredients, pesticides, phenols, oils, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls. High adsorption capacities up to 2541.76 mg g-1 for dyes, 392 mg g-1 for pesticides and phenols, 1890.3 mg g-1 for pharmaceuticals, and 537 g g-1 for oils and organic solvents have been reported. The review also attempted to convey to its readers the significance of wastewater treatment through adsorption by providing an overview on decontamination technologies of organic water contaminants. Various preparation methods of biopolymer-based gel beads and adsorption mechanisms involved in the process of decontamination have been summarized and analyzed. Therefore, we believe there is an urge to discuss the current state of the application of biopolymer-based gel beads for the adsorption of organic pollutants from wastewater and future perspectives in this regard since it is imperative to treat wastewater before releasing into freshwater bodies.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of a Novel Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) for Selective Quantification of Curcumin in Real Food Sample by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry

Curcumin is the main colorant of the curcuma longa plant, a food with many benefits for human health. This work aims to synthesize a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of curcumin in real samples obtained from the local market of Peru. MIPs were synthesized via bulk polymerization using curcumin, acrylamide, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ABCV, and acetonitrile. FTIR spectra showed equal spectra for MIP and NIP. N2 physisorption analysis presented a higher value BET surface for the MIP (28.5 m2 g-1) compared to the NIP (18.5 m2 g-1). The adsorption capacity of the MIP was evaluated using UV-vis spectrophotometry in the band around 430 nm. The adsorption kinetics found were of pseudo-second-order and a Qe value of 16.2 mg g-1. Furthermore, the adsorption process resembles the Freundlich adsorption model with a heterogeneity factor of less than 1 (0.61) and Kf greater for MIP (1.97). The selectivity test indicated that MIP is more selective for curcumin (Q = 13.20 mg g-1) than against interferents (Q = 2.19 mg g-1). The specific selectivity factor (S) obtained for the interferents was greater than 1 which indicates a good selectivity. Finally, the application of MIP in real samples using UV-vis spectrophotometry yielded a recovery value greater than 70%.

Selective Adsorption Behavior and Mechanism for Cd(II) in Aqueous Solution with a Recoverable Magnetie-Surface Ion-Imprinted Polymer

A novel recoverable magnetic Cd(II) ion-imprinted polymer was synthesized on the surface of silica-coated Fe₃O₄ particles via the surface imprinting technique and chemical grafting method. The resulting polymer was used as a highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption experiments revealed that Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@IIP had a maximum adsorption capacity of up to 29.82 mg·g^-1 for Cd(II) at an optimal pH of 6, with the adsorption equilibrium achieved within 20 min. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption of Cd(II) on the imprinted polymer was spontaneous and entropy-increasing. Furthermore, the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@IIP could rapidly achieve solid-liquid separation in the presence of an external magnetic field. More importantly, despite the poor affinity of the functional groups constructed on the polymer surface for Cd(II), we improved the specific selectivity of the imprinted adsorbent for Cd(II) through surface imprinting technology. The selective adsorption mechanism was verified by XPS and DFT theoretical calculations.

A facile approach for grafting ion imprinted polymer onto magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes for selective removal and preconcentration of cadmium in food and wastewater samples prior to atomic spectrometric determination

A 3D Fe₃O₄@MWCNT-CdIIP was synthesized by the oxidizing surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with carboxylic acid end groups and its subsequent termination with an ion imprinted polymer. An artificial neural network manifests better predictability than the central composite design methodology for optimising the adsorption procedure. The adsorption capacity was 109 mg g^-1 (2.5 times more than non-imprinted polymer) under optimized conditions (pH; 5.6, time; 15 min, concentration; 800 μg mL^-1 temperature; 25 °C), which was in accord with Toth isotherm. Fractal-like pseudo-second-order kinetics was found reasonably fast, with 66 % adsorption in 5 min. Solid phase extraction coupled Flame atomic absorption spectrometry method provides selective recognition towards Cd(II), with limit of detection; 1.13 µg/L, limit of quantification; 3.21 µg/L after preconcentration (preconcentration factor; 50) and good robustness. The developed method was applied for Cd(II) determination in food (tea, coffee, bread, tobacco, radish, spinach), water and wastewater (>99 % removal as well). Cd(II) loaded IIP was further utilized to remove anionic dyes with >95 % removal.

Carbon dot-based molecularly imprinted fluorescent nanopomegranate for selective detection of quinoline in coking wastewater

Quinoline, as a refractory and toxic organic pollutant in coking wastewater, causes great harm to the environment and human health even in trace amount. To realize the selective and sensitive detection of quinoline in coking wastewater, a novel molecularly imprinted fluorescent nanopomegranate with carbon dots (CDs) as seeds and fluorescence source (CD-MIP) was prepared, using quinoline as the template, and N-(β-aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (KH792) as the monomer. The preparation and detection conditions of CD-MIP were systematically optimized. The structure and detection performance of CD-MIP were investigated in detail. The resulting CD-MIP exhibits excellent photoluminescence performance, high detection sensitivity, good selectivity and reproducibility towards quinoline. Under the optimized conditions, the fluorescence intensity of CD-MIP shows a satisfying linearity with quinoline concentration in the range of 20-200 mg/L with a detection limit of 6.7 mg/L. Owing to the existence of imprinted cavities that highly match with quinoline, a high imprinting factor (3.46) for CD-MIP was obtained. In addition, CD-MIP represents a greater affinity towards quinoline than towards other analogues, as well as an outstanding anti-interference capability. For trace analysis in real coking wastewater, CD-MIP also gives satisfactory results. Therefore, CD-MIP shows promising application in the selective detection of trace quinoline in wastewater.

Nanomaterials-Based Ion-Imprinted Electrochemical Sensors for Heavy Metal Ions Detection: A Review

Heavy metal ions (HMIs) pose a serious threat to the environment and human body because they are toxic and non-biodegradable and widely exist in environmental ecosystems. It is necessary to develop a rapid, sensitive and convenient method for HMIs detection to provide a strong guarantee for ecology and human health. Ion-imprinted electrochemical sensors (IIECSs) based on nanomaterials have been regarded as an excellent technology because of the good selectivity, the advantages of fast detection speed, low cost, and portability. Electrode surfaces modified with nanomaterials can obtain excellent nano-effects, such as size effect, macroscopic quantum tunneling effect and surface effect, which greatly improve its surface area and conductivity, so as to improve the detection sensitivity and reduce the detection limit of the sensor. Hence, the present review focused on the fundamentals and the synthetic strategies of ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) and IIECSs for HMIs detection, as well as the applications of various nanomaterials as modifiers and sensitizers in the construction of HMIIECSs and the influence on the sensing performance of the fabricated sensors. Finally, the potential challenges and outlook on the future development of the HMIIECSs technology were also highlighted. By means of the points presented in this review, we hope to provide some help in further developing the preparation methods of high-performance HMIIECSs and expanding their potential applications.

Influence of Synthesis Parameters and Polymerization Methods on the Selective and Adsorptive Performance of Bio-Inspired Ion Imprinted Polymers

Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) have been widely used in different fields of Analytical Sciences due to their intrinsic selective properties. However, the success of chemical imprinting in terms of selectivity, as well as the stability, specific surface area, and absence of swelling effect depends on fully understanding the preparation process. Therefore, the proposal of this review is to describe the influence of relevant parameters on the production processes of ion-imprinted polymers, including the nature (organic, inorganic, or hybrid materials), structure, properties of the salt (source of the metal ion), ligand, crosslinking agent, porogenic solvent, and initiator. Additionally, different polymerization methods are discussed, the classification of IIPs as well as the applications of these adsorbent materials in the last years (2017–2022).

Toxic cadmium selective sequestration from food samples using melamine anchored magnetic cellulose by surface imprinting route

Cadmium is very toxic for living organisms hence selective and efficient control capturing of it is necessary. To reach this goal a novel imprinted polymer was developed using melamine anchored MnFe₂O₄ - cellulose. Magnetic cellulose was synthesized through an ultrasound-assisted precipitation route. Chloropropyltriethoxysilane was used to attach melamine to the magnetic cellulose surface. Response surface methodology employed to optimize effective parameters on cadmium adsorption. Time of 13 min, the dosage of 18 mg and pH of 8 was selected as optimum conditions. The relative standard deviation, detection limits and adsorption capacity were 2,5%, 0.50 µgL^-1 and 138 mg g^-1 respectively. The selectivity coefficient of Cd(II) relative to Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) were 4, 5, 12 and 3, respectively. Regeneration of the sorbent was performed using HCl (0.5 mol L^-1) as eluent. The method was used for cadmium preconcentration in fish, lettuce and liver with satisfactory results.

Polymer Processing under Microwaves

Over the last decades, microwave heating has experienced a great development and reached various domains of application, especially in material processing. In the field of polymers, this unusual source of energy showed important advantages arising from the direct microwave/matter interaction. Indeed, microwave heating allows regio-, chemio-, and stereo-selectivity, faster chemical reactions, and higher yields even in solvent-free processes. Thus, this heating mode provides a good alternative to the conventional heating by reducing time and energy consumption, hence reducing the costs and ecological impact of polymer chemistry and processing. This review states some achievements in the use of microwaves as energy source during the synthesis and transformation of polymers. Both in-solution and free-solvent processes are described at different scales, with comparison between microwave and conventional heating.

Natural-clay-reinforced hydrogel adsorbent: Rapid adsorption of heavy-metal ions and dyes from textile wastewater

In this study, two natural clay minerals were combined with hydrogels to study the influence of natural adsorbents on the adsorption performance of hydrogels. Here, we separately doped bentonite and vermiculite and discussed their mechanical properties and adsorption properties. It was found that the compressive performance of the hydrogel added with clay increased by 21.6% and the swelling performance decreased or increased to varying degrees. Regarding the adsorption performance of hydrogels, it can be seen from the adsorption Langmuir isotherm model that the adsorption capacity of clay-hydrogels is improved to varying degrees (6.6%-15.8%) compared with non-clay-hydrogels, and clay-hydrogels have different degrees of improvement (6.6%-15.8%). The hydrogel has a removal efficiency of more than 95% for low concentrations of heavy-metal ions and dyes. In addition, the clay-hydrogel has low cost and is easy to prepare, and can be recycled many times. Therefore, the material is of great significance for the treatment of pollutants. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The effect of natural clay on the adsorption performance of hydrogels was studied. Clay can enhance the compression and adsorption properties of hydrogels. The adsorption mechanism and adsorption capacity of clay hydrogels were evaluated.

The ion-imprinted oyster shell material for targeted removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solution

In order to realize the sustainable utilization of waste oyster shell and develop a targeted removal technology for cadmium. A novel ion-imprinted oyster shell material (IIOS) was prepared by surface imprinting technique. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier infrared spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, thermogravimetric analysis and N₂ adsorption-desorption. The adsorption performances of IIOS for Cd(II) from aqueous solution were studied by the single factor sequential batch, kinetics, isotherms, selectivity and recycling experiments. The characterization researches showed that IIOS was successfully prepared. The adsorption experiments indicated that the adsorption process reached equilibrium within 240 min; the maximum adsorption capacity was up to 69.1 mg g^-1 with the initial Cd(II) concentration of 75 mg L^-1 at pH 5; the adsorption process fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm model, which revealed the chemisorption characteristic of Cd(II). Moreover, IIOS exhibited a good targeted adsorption of Cd(II) in several binary competition systems owing to the present of these imprinted cavities. The recycling experiment showed that the targeted removal ratio of IIOS for Cd(II) remained above 80% after used six times. The results of this study indicated that it is a promising prospect for waste oyster shell used as IIOS to dispose heavy metals in wastewater.

Cr(VI)-imprinted polymer wrapped on urchin-like Bi2S3 for reduced photocorrosion and improved photoreduction of aqueous Cr(VI)

Just like other metal sulfides, the misfortune of photocorrosion and undesired photogenerated electron-hole recombination for Bi₂S₃ was inevitable. In this work, a viable route to reduce photocorrosion of Bi₂S₃ and improve photoreduction of aqueous Cr(VI) was developed via "dressed" a Cr(VI) imprinting polymer (Cr(VI)-IP) on urchin-like Bi₂S₃ (U-Bi₂S₃). Cr(VI)-IP wrapped on the three dimensional U-Bi₂S₃ was implemented by a bulk polymerization. The wrapped Cr(VI)-IP enabled to fast enrich and adsorb Cr(VI) on U-Bi₂S₃ leading to improve the photoreduced efficiency of photogenerated carriers and restrain the photogenerated electron-hole recombination. What's more, Cr(VI)-IP wrapped on U-Bi₂S₃ was just like an "armor" which could support the three dimensional construction of U-Bi₂S₃ from the structural collapse of photocorrosion and retard the direct contact of oxygen and H₂O from the surrounding media. As expected, the obtained U-Bi₂S₃@Cr(VI)-IP exhibited higher photostability, adsorption, photoreduction capacities towards the target Cr(VI) than the bare U-Bi₂S₃. The photocatalytic kinetic constant of U-Bi₂S₃@Cr(VI)-IP was 6 times higher than U-Bi₂S₃. After 3 times recycling uses, the morphology, crystal structure and chemical constitution of U-Bi₂S₃@Cr(VI)-IP were maintained. In addition, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by U-Bi₂S₃@Cr(VI)-IP was kept at 58% whereas U-Bi₂S₃ was almost lost to zero.

Green Aspects in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers by Biomass Waste Utilization

Molecular Imprinting Polymer (MIP) technology is a technique to design artificial receptors with a predetermined selectivity and specificity for a given analyte, which can be used as ideal materials in various application fields. In the last decades, MIP technology has gained much attention from the scientific world as summarized in several reviews with this topic. Furthermore, green synthesis in chemistry is nowadays one of the essential aspects to be taken into consideration in the development of novel products. In accordance with this feature, the MIP community more recently devoted considerable research and development efforts on eco-friendly processes. Among other materials, biomass waste, which is a big environmental problem because most of it is discarded, can represent a potential sustainable alternative source in green synthesis, which can be addressed to the production of high-value carbon-based materials with different applications. This review aims to focus and explore in detail the recent progress in the use of biomass waste for imprinted polymers preparation. Specifically, different types of biomass waste in MIP preparation will be exploited: chitosan, cellulose, activated carbon, carbon dots, cyclodextrins, and waste extracts, describing the approaches used in the synthesis of MIPs combined with biomass waste derivatives.

Surface modified polythiophene/Al2O3 and polyaniline/Al2O3 nanocomposites using poly(vinyl alcohol) for the removal of heavy metal ions from water: kinetics, thermodynamic and isotherm studies

In this study, polythiophene/Al₂O₃ (PTh/Al₂O₃) and polyaniline/Al₂O₃ (PAn/Al₂O₃) nanocomposites in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as the surfactant were synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method in aqueous medium. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicated that the Al₂O₃ and poly(vinyl alcohol) influenced the properties of synthesized nanocomposites. The aim of this research was to investigate the sorption characteristics of polythiophene and polyaniline nanocomposites for the removal of heavy metal cations including Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution. The factors that affected the adsorption equilibrium as well as the removal efficiency of the nanoadsorbents, i.e., contact time, metal ion concentration, pH and adsorption conditions were investigated in detail. From the kinetic results, it was concluded that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be the best at describing the adsorption process for Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) on PTh-PVA/Al₂O₃ and PAn-PVA/Al₂O₃. In addition, thermodynamic analysis suggests the endothermic and spontaneous nature of the present adsorption process with increased entropy on PTh-PVA/Al₂O₃ and PAn-PVA/Al₂O₃. The results suggest polythiophene, polyaniline and their nanocomposites have great potential to be used as efficient absorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from water.

Recent Advances of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Based on Cyclodextrin

Molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs), generally considered as artificial mimics that are comparable to natural receptor, are polymers with tailor-made specific recognition sites complementary to the template molecules in shape and size. As a class of supramolecular compounds, cyclodextrins (CDs) are flourishing in the field of molecular imprinting with their unique structural properties. This review presents recent advances in application of MIPs based on CDs during the past five years. The discussion is grouped according to the different role of CDs in MIPs, that is, functional monomer, carrier modifier, etc. Main focus is the application of CD-based MIP on sample preparation, detection, and sensing. Additionally, drug delivery with CD-based MIP is also briefly discussed. Finally, challenges and future prospects of application of CDs in MIP are elaborated.

Selective adsorption behavior of Cd2+ imprinted acrylamide-crosslinked-poly(alginic acid) magnetic polymers: fabrication, characterization, adsorption performance and mechanism

Poly(acrylamide) grafted and glutaraldehyde-crosslinked alginic acid nano-magnetic adsorbent (AAMA) was prepared by selecting Cd²⁺ as a template ion. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of AAMA. The adsorption of AAMA for different metal ions was compared and the impact of various factors for adsorption of Cd²⁺ was systematically investigated. These results suggested that the AAMA was the aggregates of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with a diameter of about 50-100 nm and had selectivity for Cd²⁺ adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cd²⁺ is 175 mg/g at pH 5.0 and 303 K. The experimental data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order model. The parameters of adsorption thermodynamics concluded that the adsorption progress is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The parameters of adsorption activation energy suggested that there is physical adsorption and chemisorption on the adsorption of metal ions. AAMA could be regenerated by EDTA and still keep 71% adsorption capacity in the fifth consecutive adsorption-regeneration cycle. Therefore, AAMA would be useful as a selective and high adsorption capacity nano-magnetic adsorbent in the removal of Cd²⁺ from wastewater.

Preparation of surface molecularly imprinted polymer and its application for the selective extraction of teicoplanin from water

In this study, a new surface molecularly imprinted polymer (SMIP) of teicoplanin (TEC) was prepared in an aqueous solution using amino-modified silica gel as a carrier. The molar ratio of the template molecule, functional monomer and cross-linker in the optimized synthesis system was 1 : 15 : 40. The structure and morphology of SMIP were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. It was shown that the silica gel modified with different active groups; the type and structure of functional monomers have a great influence on the specificity of SMIP. The SMIPs synthesized from a series of methacrylic acid and its hydroxylalkyl esters as functional monomers have good specificity for TEC. The results of static adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption capacity of SMIP was 6.5 times that of non-molecularly imprinted polymer, which were 152.6 mg g⁻¹ and 23.6 mg g⁻¹, respectively, indicating that SMIP had a larger affinity for TEC. Finally, the SMIP was successfully used as a dispersive solid-phase extraction adsorption material to selectively extract and enrich TEC from the water sample. The limit of detection of the proposed liquid chromatographic method for TEC was 5 μg L⁻¹.

A novel surface molecularly imprinted polymer for specific absorbing teicoplanin in environmental water.

Molecularly imprinted polymers in biological applications

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are currently widely used and further developed for biological applications. The MIP synthesis procedure is a key process, and a wide variety of protocols exist. The templates that are used for imprinting vary from the smallest glycosylated glycan structures or even amino acids to whole proteins or bacteria. The low cost, quick preparation, stability and reproducibility have been highlighted as advantages of MIPs. The biological applications utilizing MIPs discussed here include enzyme-linked assays, sensors, in vivo applications, drug delivery, cancer diagnostics and more. Indeed, there are numerous examples of how MIPs can be used as recognition elements similar to natural antibodies.

Synthesis, characterization and application of a novel ion hybrid imprinted polymer to adsorb Cd(II) in different samples

Two new ionic imprinted hybrid polymers (IIHP) and their corresponding non imprinted hybrid polymers (NIHP) were synthesized. The prepared IIHP was highly selective to Cd²⁺. To prepare the IIHP, 1-vinylimidazole (VIN) was used as the functional monomer, (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MP) or (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (AMP) was used as the functional organosilane, trimethylolpropane (TRIM) was used as the crosslinking agent, AIBN was used as a radical initiator and TEOS was used as a functional precursor. The functional monomer was selected considering calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). The fabricated materials were characterized via field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum adsorption capacity of Cd²⁺ was achieved at a pH of 7.2 in the tris-HCl medium. The adsorption test indicated that the reaction followed pseudo second order kinetics, and the equilibrium sorption data fitted well into the Langmuir isotherm model. The relative selectivity coefficients of polymers IIHP-VIN-AMP and IIHP-VIN-MP, as evaluated in binary mixtures of Cd²⁺ and interferent cations (Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Na⁺) at different molar ratios, were greater than one due to the presence of specific recognition sites for Cd²⁺ ions. Moreover, the selective materials exhibited a high reusability and reproducibility in the context of Cd²⁺ adsorption. These adsorbent materials, specifically IIHP-VIN-MP, exhibited a % removal efficiency of more than 90% for the Cd²⁺ in river water samples.

A Critical Review on the Synthesis and Application of Ion-Imprinted Polymers for Selective Preconcentration, Speciation, Removal and Determination of Trace and Essential Metals from Different Matrices

The presence of toxic trace metals and high concentrations of essential elements in the environment presents a serious threat to living organism. Various methods have been used for the detection, preconcentration and remediation of these metals from biological, environmental and food matrices. Owing to the complexicity of samples, methods with high selectivity have been used for detection, preconcentration and remediation of these trace metals. These methods are achieved by the use of ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) due to their impressive properties such as selectivity, high extraction efficiency, speciation capability and reusability. Because of the increase of toxic trace and essential metals in the environment, IIPs have attracted great use in analytical chemistry. This review, provide a brief background on IIPs and polymerization method that are used for their preparation. Recent applications of IIPs as adsorbents for preconcentration, removal, speciation and electrochemical detection of trace and essential metal is also discussed.

Composite Polymeric Cryogel Cartridges for Selective Removal of Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Solutions

In this study, composite polymeric cryogel cartridges were achieved by using Cd(II) imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate N-methacryloly-(L)-cysteine methylester) beads and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogel cartridges with two different mole ratios of functional monomer. The N-methacryloly-(L)-cysteinemethylester was used as a functional monomer and Cd(II) 1:1 and 2:1, which were then notated as MIP1 and MIP2, respectively. Various characterization methods have confirmed the structural transformation on the MIP1 and MIP2 composite cryogel cartridges by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance, and swelling tests. The maximum amount of Cd(II) adsorption with composite cryogel cartridges was determined by altering the Cd(II) initial concentration, temperature, and pH values. The maximum adsorption capacity of MIP1 and MIP2 composite cryogel cartridges obtained was 76.35 and 98.8 µmol/g of composite cryogels, respectively. The adsorption studies revealed that the MIP2 possessed a good adsorption performance for Cd(II). The obtained composite cryogel cartridges have a selective, reusable, and cost-friendly potential for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solutions, and are used many times without decreasing their adsorption capacities significantly. The Cd(II) removal rate of the MIP1 and MIP2 composite cryogel cartridges from synthetic wastewater samples was determined as 98.8%. The obtained cryogel cartridges’ adsorption material exhibited a good directional removal performance for Cd(II) from wastewater samples.

The comparative study of a homogeneous and a heterogeneous system with green synthesized iron nanoparticles for removal of Cr(VI)

Green iron nanoparticles (G-nZVI) were synthesized in situ by adding grape-seed extracts and Fe2+ solution simultaneously. The performances for the removal of Cr(VI) were compared in a homogeneous system by original G-nZVI (in suspension) with in a heterogeneous system by treated G-nZVI. The characterization of TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR and XPS show that G-nZVI is the formation of Fe°-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles with organic matters in the extracts as capping/stabilizing agents. The same excellent performances on the removal of Cr(VI) were observed in the both systems and the adsorption capacity was from 78.3 to 166.7 mg (Cr)·g-1 (Fe) with the increase of initial Fe2+ concentrations. The pseudo second-order model described the adsorption process excellently and both pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order models fit the reduction process well. It illustrated that the reaction included prompt adsorption and simultaneous redox process. Moreover, the results of thermodynamics study (ΔG° < 0, ΔH° > 0, ΔS° > 0) revealed that the adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. It is obvious that the systhesis of original G-nZVI in the homogeneous system is more simple, rapid, cost-effective and suitable for in situ uses. It holds a great potential for remediation of soil and water.

Effective removal matrix interferences by a modified QuEChERS based on the molecularly imprinted polymers for determination of 84 polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in shellfish samples

A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) procedure combined with GC-MS/MS detection approach using a dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (DMRM) mode was successfully applied for the simultaneous analysis of 84 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in shellfish samples. The novel molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized by precipitation polymerization and characterized by Scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, Fourier transform infrared spectra and adsorption experiment. The MIPs exhibited good adsorption capability to pigment coextractives in shellfish samples without the loss of analytes compared with other sorbents. Under optimal conditions, spiked experiments in sinonovacula, mussel, and clam at 10.0-100.0 μg/kg concentrations showed excellent recoveries ranging from 70% to 120% for all analytes with the relative standard deviations of <10%. The developed method showed good linearity with the correlation coefficient above 0.9980, and the limits of quantification were in the range of 0.01-9.02 μg/kg. The developed QuEChERS procedure combined with GC-MS/MS was successfully applied to 84 PCBs and OCPs residues detection in shellfish samples.

Preparation of highly efficient ion-imprinted polymers with Fe3O4 nanoparticles as carrier for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution

Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and their surface was modified by the sol-gel method. Polymers imprinted with magnetic Cr (VI) were prepared by using Cr₂O₇^2- as template ion, 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) as monomer, isopropanol as solvent and Fe₃O₄ as matrix. The effects of solvent type, amount of Cr (VI) addition and volume of crosslinking agent on the adsorption properties of the imprinted polymers were investigated. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The adsorption equilibrium was reached within 50 min, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 201.55 mg·g^-1. The adsorption process conformed to the Langmuir model, and the results of kinetic fitting showed that the pseudo-first-order kinetic model applied. In the Cr₂O₇^2-/AlF₄^- and Cr₂O₇^2-/CrO₄^2- competitive systems, the imprinted polymer showed good selectivity to the template ions, with relative selectivity factors of 6.91 and 5.99, respectively. When the imprinted polymer was reused 6 times, the adsorption capacity decreased by only 8.2%, demonstrating good reusability.

Monodisperse cobalt(II) based metal-organic coordination polymer beads as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides prior to their quantitation by HPLC

Metal-organic coordination polymer beads (MOCBs) are described for use as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of chlorophenoxy herbides. By applying regulation of Co(II) ions, micro-sized monodisperse MOCBs were obtained through the microwave heating. The MOCBs-based method displays excellent extraction efficiency towards chlorophenoxy herbicides, specifically of 2-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chloromethylphenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid. Following extraction, the herbicides were eluted with 8% formic acid in methanol and quantified by HPLC. The method, when applied to analyze spiked cereals, exhibits a wide linear range (from 0.6 to 1000 ng g^-1) and low limits of quantification (ranging from 0.10 to 0.25 ng g^-1). For a single column, the inter-day and intra-day precisions, expressed as the relative standard deviation are in the range of 2.5-6.8%. The batch-to-batch reproducibility (for n = 3) is <4.6%. For spiked cereal samples, relative recoveries are very good (90.3-102.3%, for n = 4). The extraction efficiency of MOCBs remains unchanged after reusing for 40 times. Graphical abstractSchematic presentation of Co(II)-doped metal-organic coordination polymer beads (Co(II)@MOCB) using for solid-phase extraction (SPE).

Carboxymethyl cellulose thiol-imprinted polymers: Synthesis, characterization and selective Hg(II) adsorption

Sulfur containing ion imprinted polymers (S-IIPs) were applied for the uptake of Hg(II) from aqueous solution. Cysteamine which was used as the ligand for Hg(II) complexation, was grafted along the epichlorohydrin crosslinked carboxylated carboxymethyl cellulose polymer chain through an amide reaction. The adsorption ability of S-IIPs towards Hg(II) was investigated by kinetic and isotherm models, which, corresponding, showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order, fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 80 mg/g. Moreover, thermodynamic studies indicated an endothermic and spontaneous reaction with the tendency of an enhanced randomness at the surface of the S-IIPs with temperature increases. S-IIPs indicated a high degree of selectivity towards Hg(II) in the presence of Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Furthermore, the efficiency of S-IIPs was also evaluated against real samples showing 86.78%, 91.88%, and 99.10% recovery for Hg(II) wastewater, ground water and tap water, respectively. In this study, the adsorbent was successfully regenerated for five cycles, which allows for their reuse without significant loss of initial adsorption capability.