Characterisation and improved performance of molecularly imprinted polymers prepared using room temperature ionic liquids

TL;DRAbstract

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are selective recognitions elements that have biological, chromatographic and sensory applications. While methods exist to reproducibly form MIPs with high affinity for a wide range of target molecules, improvements in production efficiency and selectivity are constantly being sought. Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) represent a reasonably novel class of ‘green solvents’ which have been widely utilised for polymerisation reactions, resulting in enhanced polymerisation rates and polymer yields. In this study, the performance of imprinted polymers prepared in RTILs compared against equivalent formulations prepared using conventional organic solvents (Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs) is reported. RTILs were found to greatly improve reaction efficiency compared to VOCs whilst maintaining reasonable levels of selectivity. The effect of variables such as RTIL structure, polymerisation temperature and solvent volume on the efficiency and structu

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