Detection of TNT by Surface Plasmon Resonance Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Abstract

2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a commonly used explosive. It is not only a threat to public safety but also causes environmental pollution, affecting human health. However, at this stage of TNT detection, technology cannot meet the demands of the current situation. To acquire a new method devoted to the study of fast and quantitative detection of TNT. It combines the molecular imprinting technique (MIT) with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology for high sensitivity. In this study, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film for the detection of TNT was synthesized by heat in acetonitrile at 60°C, using the TNT imprinting molecule and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiators. In the present work, there are many factors that can influence the elution efficiency, such as raw material ratios,fore-reaction time, reaction time, etc. The polymers have the highest elution efficiency when raw material mole ratios [n(TNT):n methacrylic acid (MAA):n ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA)] were 1:4:8; the MIP sensor could detect a TNT concentration as low as 1×10-10 M. Compared to the blank polymer with the same chemical composition, the imprinted polymer had higher binding efficiency and higher selectivity.