Molecularly imprinted polymer for detection of endocrine disrupting chemical epinephrine in drinking water and biological buffers

Abstract

A polymer for selective extraction of epinephrine has been prepared using molecular imprinting technique with two functional monomers, viz., vinylbenzyl chloride and divinylbenzene and a simple and sensitive analytical procedure has been developed for detection of epinephrine, a neurotransmitter and an emerging pollutant, in drinking water resources.. The imprinted polymer shows selective extraction of epinephrine from water with a capacity of 9.82 mg g^-1, which is reduced to 9.45 mg g^-1 in biological buffer (<i>p</i>H 7.0). The polymer shows better selectivity for epinephrine in water in the presence of bisphenol-A and nicotine (93%) as compared to the commercial polymer, XAD. The selective adsorption mechanism of the polymer has been investigated using infrared spectroscopy.