Graphene‐based molecularly imprinted polymer for separation and pre‐concentration of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples |
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Authors: | Rose Waithiegeni Kibechu Srinivasan Sampath Bhekie Brilliance Mamba Titus Alfred Makudali Msagati |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa;2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa;3. Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Department, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India;4. College of Science Engineering and Technology, The University of South Africa, Roodepoort, South Africa |
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Abstract: | A composite of reduced graphene oxide and pyrene‐imprinted polymer was synthesized and employed as a solid phase for extraction of five selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples. Gas chromatography‐time of flight/mass spectrometry was employed in the analysis of the extracts. The composite was prepared by a free radical polymerization of methacrylic acid and 4‐vinylpyridine as monomers and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker. The adsorption studies were carried out through batch binding studies. The binding capacity for the imprinted and non‐imprinted composite was 101.83 and 68.21 µg g?1, respectively. The adsorption followed the pseudo 2nd order and well fitted the Langmuir isotherm. Mean recoveries ranging from 73% to 105.4% for both spiked deionized water and environmental water samples were obtained when the imprinted composites were employed in solid phase extraction of the PAHs. The composites could be re‐used for five times without a significant loss in recoveries. The proposed method was employed for the analysis of spiked environmental water samples and did not show significant changes in the recoveries showing there were no matrix interferences. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45300. |
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Keywords: | adsorption molecular recognition nanostructured polymers |
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