Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers using methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate by precipitation polymerization method

Abstract

The synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was carried out by using methacrylic acid as a monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslink and dibutyl phthalate as a mold through the precipitation polymerization method. The MIP was characterized with FTIR, surface area analyzer, SEM-EDS and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The MIP adsorption ability test variables for dibutyl phthalate were time and concentration. The FTIR indicates that the functional groups -OH, -C=O and -C=C contribute to the formation of MIP and the SEM-EDS analysis showed that the prepared MIP resembles as beads. The MIP's ability to adsorb dibutyl phthalate is better than NIP and the optimum time to adsorb dibutyl phthalate is 60 min.