Molecular recognition properties and adsorption isotherms of diniconaziole-imprinted polymers

Diniconazole, a triazole-type fungicide with a broad antifungal spectrum, shows excellent efficacy against various diseases. Molecular imprinted polymers of the compound were prepared by the technique of non-covalent molecular imprinting polymerization. The functional monomers used include methacrylic acid, acrylamide, or a combination of methacrylic acid and acrylamide. HPLC was used to study the molecular recognition mechanism regulating the binding behavior and evaluate the binding performance of MIPs for template and for paclobutrazol. The result showed that the MIPs (P1-3) had significant molecular imprinting effect, but P3 is better for the separation of diniconazole and paclobutrazol. The adsorption isotherms of diniconazole on the imprinting stationary phase were determined using rectangular pulse frontal analysis. Three different ratios of methanol-water (50: 50, 55 :45, 60: 40, v/v) were used as the mobile phases in frontal analysis. It was found that the bigger the ratio of methanol is, the better adsorption lines are fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.