Effect of solvents on selectivity in separation using molecularly imprinted adsorbents: separation of phenol and bisphenol A

Abstract

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are finding diverse applications in areas such as racemic resolution, sensors, catalysts, etc. We report separation of phenol and bisphenol A using MIPs especially with reference to the role of the solvent in deciding the selectivity of separation. The separation efficacy for MIPs depends not only on the solvent but also on the conditions (viz., equilibrium vs nonequilibrium) under which the selectivity is determined. The sorption capacity is severely affected as a result of limitations of accessibility of the imprint site. Our work gives an insight into the subtle interactions among the polymer, sorbate, and the solvent. Our results are of value in designing separation systems with greater efficacy.