Application of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for the solid phase extraction of selected nitroaromatic compounds from contaminated aqueous environments

ABSTRACT

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were successfully synthesized by bulk polymerization for the extraction of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). Based on the HPLC method, the linear calibration range of 0.5–5 mg L⁻¹ for 2,4-dinitrotoluene, nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene gave detection limits of 13.6, 7.7 and 27.2 µg L⁻¹, respectively, and good correlation values of R² > 0.993 of all the analytes were obtained. The optimum sorption was at a sorbent dosage of 5 g L⁻¹, a contact time of 15 min and at pH 8. Recoveries for 2,4-dinitrotoluene, nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene from spiked real water samples were all 82%.

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetic
• molecularly imprinted polymers
• nitroaromatic compounds
• solid phase extraction

Funding

The authors would like to thank the National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa for funding Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa through the innovation Doctoral Scholarship, grant ID number NFS13091843717. Department of Science and Technology (DST) of South Africa is also acknowledged for funding (Grant DST/CON 0054/2014).

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Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa for funding Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa through the innovation Doctoral Scholarship, grant ID number NFS13091843717. Department of Science and Technology (DST) of South Africa is also acknowledged for funding (Grant DST/CON 0054/2014).