Dummy Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Using DNP as a Template Molecule for Explosive Sensing and Nitroaromatic Compound Discrimination

This work reports a rapid, simple and low-cost voltammetric sensor based on a dummy molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) that uses 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) as a template for the quantification of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and DNP, and the identification of related substances. Once the polymer was synthesised by thermal precipitation polymerisation, it was integrated onto a graphite epoxy composite (GEC) electrode via sol-gel immobilisation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed in order to characterise the polymer and the sensor surface. Responses towards DNP and TNT were evaluated, displaying a linear response range of 1.5 to 8.0 mu mol L-1 for DNP and 1.3 to 6.5 mu mol L-1 for TNT; the estimated limits of detection were 0.59 mu mol L-1 and 0.29 mu mol L-1, for DNP and TNT, respectively. Chemometric tools, in particular principal component analysis (PCA), demonstrated the possibilities of the MIP-modified electrodes in nitroaromatic and potential interfering species discrimination with multiple potential applications in the environmental field.

Automated summary

This study introduces a voltammetric sensor based on a dummy molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). The sensor is cost-effective, rapid, and simple to use. Chemometric tools, particularly principal component analysis (PCA), demonstrate the sensor's potential applications in environmental settings for discriminating nitroaromatic and potential interfering species.