Preparation and characterisation of a novel copper‐imprinted polymer based on β‐cyclodextrin copolymers for selective determination of Cu²⁺ions

Abstract

A novel ion‐imprinted polymer (IIP) using (6‐O‐butene diacid ester)‐β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD‐MAH) as the functional monomer and copper ions as the template was developed for Cu2+ sensing. First, reactive β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) monomers with vinyl carboxylic acid functional groups were synthesised and were co‐polymerised with styrene via radical polymerisation. Then, the β‐CD copolymers were complexed with Cu2+ in order to obtain the IIP. The imprinting effect was realised by removing the template ions from the imprinted polymer. The structure, composition and morphology of the IIP were characterised by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy and field‐emission SEM. The adsorption capacity was investigated by UV–visible spectroscopy in batch operation mode. The maximum adsorption capacity for the Cu2+ template ions was 28.91 mg g−1, and the adsorption selectivity was clearly illustrated from the increased sorption affinity towards Cu2+ ions over other competing ions. The adsorption was affected by the pH of the aqueous medium, and enhanced adsorption capacity was observed at pH 5. The prepared IIP could be used 10 times after its regeneration without significant loss of the adsorption capacity. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Recent Advances of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Based on Cyclodextrin

“…Cao et al. [ 45 ] developed a Cu (II) ion‐imprinted polymer using MAH‐β‐CD as the functional monomer. The MAH‐β‐CD can form a host–guest complex with Cu (II) through its hydrophobic cavity, thereby promoting the adsorption ability of the MIP to Cu (II) in an aqueous environment.…”

Review of molecular imprinting polymer: basic characteristics and removal of phenolic contaminants based on the functionalized cyclodextrin monomer

“…Most of the reported studies mentioned using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator for the preparation of MIP. [76][77][78]…”

“…Figure 5 illustrates that benzoyl peroxide, azobisdimethylvaleronitrile, azobisisobutyronitrile, and 4‐cyanovaleric acid are the most used initiators. Most of the reported studies mentioned using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator for the preparation of MIP 76‐78 …”