Eco friendly core-shell particles coated with molecularly imprinted polymers for S-metolachlor recognition and...

The presence of a variety of micropollutants in aquatic environments is currently resulting in a significant degree of deterioration in water quality. Furthermore, these micropollutants can be found in concentrations ranging from ng to μg per liter, which frequently fall below the detection limit for the relevant analytes. This renders the analysis considerably more complex and time-consuming. The present work proposes the utilization of molecularly imprinted polymers applied to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) particles, thereby creating a novel materials for the detection of S-metolachlor, synthesized according to green chemistry principles.

The sorbents obtained were then tested for the suitability of the appropriate sorption model. The adsorption isotherms were subsequently fitted using the Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. This indicated that the Freundlich model was the most suitable. The maximum adsorption capacity, as calculated according to the Freundlich isotherm model, was estimated to be 6.24 and 3.12 mg × g^-1, for core-shell molecularly imprinted polymers, and core-shell non-imprinted polymers, respectively. The data obtained from the kinetic study were fitted to the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, with the pseudo-second-order model providing the best fit. The obtained material exhibit high selectivity for S-metolachlor, absorbing it approximately 5 times than fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, 4 times better than atrazine, and 2 times than glyphosate. The sorbents successfully absorbed S-metolachlor from both model solutions and real samples.

Sample preparation for determination of individual analytes, especially from micropollutant solutions, is a challenge for modern analytical chemistry. The utilization of core-shell particles coated with molecularly imprinted polymers for the separation of S-metolachlor has the potential to enhance the methodology for the determination of this herbicide from multicomponent solutions, thereby markedly reducing analysis time.