Preparation of a sensor device with specific recognition sites for acetaldehyde by molecular imprinting technique

In order to prepare a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor device with an acetaldehyde-imprinted polymer layer, methyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate were polymerized with lauroyl peroxide in chloroform containing acetaldehyde. This resulted in the formation of a polymer layer having a recognition side for the acetaldehyde on the quartz crystal oscillator. When an acetaldehyde aqueous solution was dropped into the solution in which the sensor is immersed, good sensitivity and response were observed. The good selectivity was also proved by testing the sensor in an acetone, chloroform or trichloroethane aqueous solution. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.