Anthrone-Based Dummy Molecularly Imprinted PVDF Membrane for Monitoring Fluorene and Phenanthrene in River Water

The anthrone-based dummy molecularly imprinted membrane (DIM) was successfully synthesized using a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) approach for the selective recognition and adsorption of fluorene and phenanthrene in aqueous systems. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful incorporation of functional groups, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a uniform porous morphology favorable for analyte diffusion. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated good thermal stability, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analyses indicated an enhanced surface area and mesoporous structure that supported improved adsorption performance. Adsorption isotherm studies revealed favorable adsorption behavior, with the maximum adsorption capacities of the DIM calculated to be 130.857 mg/g for fluorene and 453.030 mg/g for phenanthrene. The imprinting factors (IFs) were approximately 2.01 for fluorene and 2.17 for phenanthrene, confirming the successful imprinting effect. The recovery values achieved were 86.61% for fluorene and 92.40% for phenanthrene, demonstrating the efficiency and selectivity of the fabricated membrane. These results highlight the potential application of the anthrone-based DIM in the environmental monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).