Method for Preparing a Well-Defined Molecularly Imprinted Polymeric System via Radiation-Induced RAFT Polymerization

Meshude Akbulut Söylemez, Olgun Güven, Murat Barsbay

Index: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.03.037

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Abstract

RAFT polymerization was utilized to imprint atrazine, a model herbicide, onto porous nonwoven fabric via surface-initiated polymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) using γ-rays for the generation of radicals. Cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were employed as the RAFT agent and crosslinker, respectively. The surface-imprinted PE/PP nonwoven fabric was characterized by ATR-FTIR, XPS, SEM and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Atrazine uptake measurements were carried out by HPLC. It was demonstrated that RAFT polymerization could be successfully utilized in conjunction with radiation-induced grafting technique for the preparation of well-defined MIPs. The MIP layer grafted onto the surface exhibited the same efficiency through the whole thickness range attained. The MIPs synthesized by RAFT method presented an increase of over 100% in binding capacity at low atrazine feed concentrations compared to those prepared by conventional free-radical polymerization method where no RAFT agent was employed.