Novel separation strategies based on molecularly imprinted adsorbents

The use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the separation of structurally similar substrates is demonstrated, with a model system comprising removal of phenol from anisole. It is shown experimentally that the shape and size of the cavity determines the selectivity of separation. Hydrogen bonding plays a key role in achieving the separation. For the MIPs synthesised in this work, equilibrium sorption, packed-bed flow experiments as well as batch experiments were conducted. The results were analysed in the framework of a suitable mathematical model. Agreement between the experimental and predicted breakthrough curves was sound. MIPs could be used to achieve such separations in commercially important systems, especially for the removal of trace impurities. The recovery as well as selectivity can be further improved by selecting sorbents resistant to swelling. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.