[A portable sensory system for phenols detection based on molecular-imprinted polymers with catalytic properties]

Portable devices for the express control of the phenols content in water were developed. Polymers mimicking active site of the enzyme tyrosinase, synthesized using the method of molecular imprinting, were obtained by co-polymerization of the complex Cu (II)-catechol-urocanic acid ethyl ester with ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate. Concentration of phenols in the analyzed samples was detected using universal portable device oxymeter with the oxygen electrode in a close contact with catalytic molecularly-imprinted polymer as a transducer. The detection limit of phenols detection using the developed sensor system based on polymers-biomimics with the optimized composition comprised 0.078 mM, while the linear range of the sensor comprised 0.078-5 mM. The working characteristics of the portable sensor devices were investigated. The possibility of repeated use of the catalytic polymers-biomimics as selective elements of the developed portable sensor systems was demonstrated. Storage stability of sensor systems at room temperature was 12 months (90%). As compared to traditional methods of phenols detection the developed sensor system is characterized by operation simplicity, compactness, and low cost.