Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer via Emulsion Polymerization for Application in Solanesol Separation

Abstract

High-purity solanesol can be used for pharmaceutical applications, but the current method for purifying solanesol has high cost and difficult continuous operation, and the use of molecular imprinting to purify natural products is a hot research topic of current research. Solanesol molecularly imprinted polymers were synthesized via emulsion polymerization for the first time. The morphology of the SSO-MIPs was observed with a scanning electron microscope, and the effects of the synthesis time, initiator dosage, functional monomer dosage, and cross-linking agent dosage on the adsorption effects under high-temperature and rapid synthesis conditions were discussed. The results demonstrate that the optimum synthesis conditions were a ratio of the template molecules to the functional monomers to the cross-linking agents of 1:8:30 (mol:mol:mol), 10 mg of the initiator, and a synthesis temperature of 70 °C. The imprinting factor of SSO-MIPs synthesized under the optimized process was found to reach 2.51, and the SSO-MIPs synthesized by this method exhibited a good adsorption effect, emitted less pollution during the synthesis process, and are convenient for demulsification. This research reports a reliable method for the synthesis of solanesol molecularly imprinted polymers.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based electrochemical sensors for the determination of catecholamine neurotransmitters – Review

“…This polymerization techniques involves the polymerization of emulsifier-stabilized monomer, template molecule, and crosslinker in a polymerization medium (usually water) containing dissolved initiator molecules. [41,47] Noteworthy, the pre-polymerization of the functional monomer and the template molecule is done before the addition of the crosslinker and the initiator. The initiator radicals formed in the polymerization medium are surrounded by the partially dissolved monomer, template molecule, crsosslinker, and emulsifiers, leading to the formation of an emulsifier-stabilized polymer nuclei.…”

“…The initiator radicals formed in the polymerization medium are surrounded by the partially dissolved monomer, template molecule, crsosslinker, and emulsifiers, leading to the formation of an emulsifier-stabilized polymer nuclei. [41,47] The growth of this nuclei consumes the monomer during polymerization. This polymerization is usually carried out at about 40-80 • C. [47] Sodium dodecyl sulfonate and fatty esters of polyhydroxy compounds are the emulsifiers mostly used for emulsion polymerization.…”

“…The more important factor at any given time dictates what technique to explore. The common molecular imprinting techniques include; bulk, [ 38 ] suspension, [ 39 ] precipitation, [ 40 ] emulsion, [ 41 ] and electrochemical [ 42 ] polymerization. Also, polymerization based on the swelling of preformed particles has also been developed.…”

“…[ 50 ] For instance, MIPs for the purification of solanesol was prepared through the emulsion polymerization technique using sodium dodecyl sulfonate as an emulsifier. [ 41 ] Apart from the smaller particle size of polymers produced, the suspension polymerization differs from the emulsion polymerization in the nature of the pre‐polymerization mixture. In suspension polymerization, the monomer dissolves the initiator to form a solution that is insoluble in the polymerization medium.…”

MIPs for commercial application in low-cost sensors and assays – An overview of the current status quo

“…Particle sizes tend to be the driving force behind the selection of these parameters, with smaller particle sizes offering enhanced surface area and potentially greater binding properties. Over the years, polymerization techniques have become more sophisticated with methods such as bulk and suspension polymerization offering particle sizes ranging mid to low microns [ [28] , [29] , [30] ], whereas micro emulsions and precipitation polymerization offer low micron to sub-micron particle sizes [ [31] , [32] , [33] ]. These methods were developed throughout the late 20th century, with smaller particle sizes becoming more attractive towards the turn of the century.…”