Bisphenol A Imprinted SiO₂‐ZrO₂ Mixed Oxide Materials Prepared by Acetic Anhydride Sol‐Gel Method

Silica‐zirconia (SiO₂‐ZrO₂) materials including bisphenol A (BPA) were prepared by a sol‐gel method using tetraethoxysilane, zirconium complexes and acetic anhydride in organic solution. The removal of BPA from SiO₂‐ZrO₂ materials is expected to form BPA‐imprinted sites in the solid matrices. Both the molecular shape and the positions of OH groups of BPA were considered to be imprinted. The acidic sites induced by isomorphously substituted Zr atom in silica matrix play the role in recognizing the OH groups of BPA. A BPA imprinted SiO₂‐ZrO₂ material preferentially adsorbed BPA and steroid hormones from the mixed solution of other reference molecules.

Keywords:

• molecular recognition
• molecular imprinting
• sol‐gel method
• acid anhydride
• bisphenol A
• steroid compounds
• adsorption
• separation

This paper is dedicated to the 70th birthday of Prof. Herbert W. Roesky of Göttingen University. Authors acknowledge “The 5th Toyota High‐tech Research Grant Program” for the financial support.