Preparation of highly selective solid-phase extractants for Cibacron reactive dyes using molecularly imprinted...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Textile dyeing processes often utilize reactive dyes like Cibacron red, blue, and yellow.
• Efficient preconcentration and quantification of specific dyes are crucial for environmental monitoring and wastewater treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize selective polymeric extractants for the preconcentration of Cibacron reactive red dye.
• To evaluate the adsorption capacity, selectivity, and efficiency of the developed material for dye extraction from various water systems.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using methacrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and red dye as a template.
• Characterization of MIPs for thermal stability and specific surface area.
• Adsorption studies to determine adsorption capacity, selectivity, and preconcentration factors.

Main Results:

• The optimized MIP exhibited a significantly enhanced adsorption capacity for red dye (79.3 mg g⁻¹) compared to the un-imprinted polymer (24.0 mg g⁻¹).
• High selectivity was achieved, with selectivity coefficients of 13.9 for yellow dye and 17.1 for blue dye.
• Effective preconcentration of red dye with a factor of 100 from tap water and textile wastewater was demonstrated, with accurate quantification at low concentrations (20 µg L⁻¹).

Conclusions:

• Molecularly imprinted polymers are highly effective for the selective preconcentration and quantification of Cibacron reactive red dye.
• The developed MIP offers a robust and efficient method for monitoring dye contamination in environmental samples.
• This technology holds promise for improving wastewater treatment and environmental analysis in the textile industry.