Molecularly imprinted polymers for environmental adsorption applications

Molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials with pores or cavities to specifically retain a molecule of interest or analyte. Their synthesis consists of the generation of three-dimensional polymers with specific shapes, arrangements, orientations, and bonds to selectively retain a particular molecule called target. After target removal from the binding sites, it leaves empty cavities to be re-occupied by the analyte or a highly related compound. MIPs have been used in areas that require high selectivity (e.g., chromatographic methods, sensors, and contaminant removal). However, the most widely used application is their use as a highly selective extraction material because of its low cost, easy preparation, reversible adsorption and desorption, and thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability. Emerging pollutants are traces of substances recently found in wastewater, river waters, and drinking water samples that represent a special concern for human and ecological health. The low concentration in which these pollutants is found in the environment, and the complexity of their chemical structures makes the current wastewater treatment not efficient for complete degradation. Moreover, these substances are not yet regulated or controlled for their discharge into the environment. According to the literature, MIPs, as a highly selective adsorbent material, are a promising approach for the quantification and monitoring of emerging pollutants in complex matrices. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to give an overview of the actual state-of-art of applications of MIPs in the recovery and concentration of emerging pollutants.