Influence of synthesis conditions on the production of molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective recovery of isovaleric acid from anaerobic effluents

Two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) – poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐TRIM) (TRIM, trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate) and poly(acylamide‐co‐TRIM) – were synthesized in different solvents for the selective recovery of isovaleric acid (template) generated during the anaerobic digestion process. The chemical and structural characterizations of the synthetic adsorbent were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, TGA and porosimetry through N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms. The selective and adsorptive performances of the imprinted polymers were evaluated by kinetic, isothermal, thermodynamic and selectivity studies and by adsorbent reuse experiments. The poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐TRIM) synthesized with dimethyl sulfoxide:chloroform presented higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for isovaleric acid in the presence of six volatile fatty acids. The kinetic results were well adjusted to the pseudo‐nth order and intraparticle diffusion models, leading to k values of 10^?4 and 6 × 10^?5 for the best synthesis of MIPs and not‐imprinted polymers, respectively. Moreover, the Sips model best described the adsorption isotherm and generated a maximum adsorption capacity of ca 209 mg g^?1 (at 25 °C). Cycles of MIP use–desorption–reuse indicated that the selective adsorbent performed better than commercial adsorbents, losing less than 3% of adsorption capacity after three cycles. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry