Selective adsorption and enhanced photodegradation of diclofenac in water by molecularly imprinted TiO2

In the paper, molecularly imprinted TiO2 was prepared by surface molecularly imprinted technology and liquid phase deposition method for preferential removal of persistent toxic pollutants from complex environmental water. Diclofenac was selected as the template molecule and target for photodegradation study. The characterization results of SEM, TEM, FTIR and XRD showed that the TiO2 film with imprinted diclofenac was successfully synthesized on the surface of TiO2 particles. Meanwhile, the adsorption and photodegradation experiments also indicated that the molecularly imprinted TiO2 had larger adsorption capacity, better selectivity and higher photodegradation performance for diclofenac than non-imprinted TiO2. The primary active species and degradation pathways during photodegradation process were also elucidated according to radical capture experiments and UPLC-MS-TOF technology. The prepared molecularly imprinted TiO2 has the advantages of efficient removal ability, high stability and environmental protection, so it has a wide application value in water treatment and water environmental restoration, especially when involved persistent toxic pollutants.

Automated summary

The molecularly imprinted TiO2 prepared in the study demonstrated superior adsorption capacity, selectivity, and photodegradation performance for diclofenac compared to non-imprinted TiO2, making it a valuable tool for efficient removal of persistent toxic pollutants in water treatment and environmental restoration.