Molecularly Imprinting Microfiltration Membranes Able to Absorb Diethyl Phthalate from Water

Abstract

In this study, polypropylene porous membranes with an average pore size of 1.25 µm were modified by barrier discharge plasma. Next, molecularly imprinted layers with an imprint of diethyl phthalate (DEP) ware grafted of their surface. In order to optimize the composition of the modifying mixture various solvents, the ratios of functional monomers and the cross-linking monomer as well as various amounts of phthalate were verified. It was shown that the most effective membranes were obtained during polymerization in n-octane with the participation of functional monomers in the ratio 3:7 and the amount of phthalate 7 wt.%. The membranes were tested in the filtration process as well as static and dynamic sorption. In all of these processes, the imprinted membranes showed better properties than those without the imprint. The diethyl phthalate retention coefficient was 36.12% for membranes with a grafting yield of 1.916 mg/cm2. On the other hand, DEP static sorption for the imprinted membranes was 3.87 µmol/g higher than for non-imprinted membranes. Also, in the process of dynamic sorption higher values were observed for membranes with the imprint (DSMIM, 4.12 µmol/g; DSNIM, 1.18 µmol/g). The membranes were also tested under real conditions. In the process of filtration of tap water contaminated with phthalate, the presence of imprints in the membrane structure resulted in more than three times higher sorption values (3.09 µmol/g) than in the case of non-imprinted membranes (1.12 µmol/g).

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic link components of antioxidant defence in subcellular fractions of rat liver under the influence of diethyl phthalate

“…Components of the enzymatic link of the antioxidant system of cells play an important role in reducing the intensity of free radical processes in the body under the influence of various exogenous and endogenous factors. Exogenous factors include xenobiotics, among which phthalates are the most common group of synthetic substances widely used as plasticisers in various industries (Smolinska-Kempisty et al, 2022;Fiocchetti et al, 2021). These substances have toxic properties and, therefore, are capable of disrupting the course of various metabolic pathways in cells with a probable increase in the development of free radical processes in many body systems, which can ultimately lead to various diseases (Goh et al, 2022;Diorditsa, 2019).…”