Water-assisted formation of novel molecularly imprinted polymer membranes with ordered porous structure

A functional polymer, poly(styrene-stat-acrylonitrile-stat-vinyl-2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine) (modified SAN, mSAN) with 13.6% triazine units, was synthesized. Using mSANs as the functional polymers and poly(styrene-stat-acrylonitriles) (SANs) as the matrix polymers, the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes with (S)-5-benzylhydantoin (S-BZH) as template and the Blank membranes without S-BZH were prepared via the water-assisted method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurement revealed an ordered porous structure on the surface and a sponge-like porous structure in the cross-section of the MIP membranes. Further, the permeation experiments of the template S-BZH and its analogues in methanol solution were carried out with MIP as well as Blank membranes; the results provided evidence for imprint effect of the ordered porous membranes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.