Imprinted Polymer Particles for Aluminum Uptake: Synthesis and Analytical Applications

This work reports the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles for selective extraction and determination of aluminum ion from aqueous media. Polymerization was achieved in a glass tube containing AlCl₃, morin, 4-vinylpyridine, ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, 2,2′ - azobisisobutyronitrile. The polymer block obtained was ground and sieved (55–75 μ m) and the Al (III)-morin complex was removed from polymer particles by leaching with 2 M of HCl, which leaves a cavity in the polymer particles. The polymer particles, both prior to and after leaching, have been characterized by IR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. The effect of different parameters, such as pH, adsorption and desorption time, type and least amount of eluent for elution of complex from polymer were evaluated. Extraction efficiencies more than 99% were obtained by elution of the polymers with 15 mL of methanol-acetonitrile mixture (1:2) followed by ICP-OES. The limit of detection of the proposed method was 3.5 μ g L^?1. A dynamic linear range (DLR) in the range of 20 to 200 μ g L^?1 was obtained. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 6.5%. The influence of various cationic and anionic interferences on percent recovery of complex was studied. The method was applied to the recovery and determination of aluminum in different real samples.