Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater
The removal of pharmaceutical contaminants like the anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CBZ) from water sources is a growing environmental challenge. This study explores the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) tailored for CBZ adsorption using a bulk polymerization approach. Initially, th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2533 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849425434013335552 |
|---|---|
| author | Elettra Savigni Elisa Girometti Laura Sisti Frank Benstoem Davide Pinelli Dario Frascari |
| author_facet | Elettra Savigni Elisa Girometti Laura Sisti Frank Benstoem Davide Pinelli Dario Frascari |
| author_sort | Elettra Savigni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The removal of pharmaceutical contaminants like the anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CBZ) from water sources is a growing environmental challenge. This study explores the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) tailored for CBZ adsorption using a bulk polymerization approach. Initially, this study focused on selecting the optimal cross-linker, comparing a trifunctional (trimethylolpropane triacrylate, TRIM) and a bifunctional cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, EGDMA) in combination with two common monomers (2-vinylpyridine and methacrylic acid). TRIM-based MIPs demonstrated superior adsorption efficiency and stability due to their higher cross-linking density. To improve sustainability, six bio-based monomers were investigated; of these, eugenol (EUG) and coumaric acid (COU) showed the best CBZ affinity due to π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. Adsorption tests conducted in pharmaceutical-spiked real wastewater demonstrated that MIPs exhibit a high selectivity for CBZ over other pharmaceuticals like the anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac (DCF) and ibuprofen (IBU), even at high concentrations. Reaction conditions were further optimized by adjusting the reaction time and the ratio between reagents to enhance selectivity and adsorption performance. These results highlight the potential of bio-based MIPs as efficient and selective materials for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-016b4ce46cd340d6be5f6816488a206e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-016b4ce46cd340d6be5f6816488a206e2025-08-20T03:29:45ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013012253310.3390/molecules30122533Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from WastewaterElettra Savigni0Elisa Girometti1Laura Sisti2Frank Benstoem3Davide Pinelli4Dario Frascari5Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyATD GmbH, Krefelder Straße 147, D-52070 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyThe removal of pharmaceutical contaminants like the anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CBZ) from water sources is a growing environmental challenge. This study explores the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) tailored for CBZ adsorption using a bulk polymerization approach. Initially, this study focused on selecting the optimal cross-linker, comparing a trifunctional (trimethylolpropane triacrylate, TRIM) and a bifunctional cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, EGDMA) in combination with two common monomers (2-vinylpyridine and methacrylic acid). TRIM-based MIPs demonstrated superior adsorption efficiency and stability due to their higher cross-linking density. To improve sustainability, six bio-based monomers were investigated; of these, eugenol (EUG) and coumaric acid (COU) showed the best CBZ affinity due to π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. Adsorption tests conducted in pharmaceutical-spiked real wastewater demonstrated that MIPs exhibit a high selectivity for CBZ over other pharmaceuticals like the anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac (DCF) and ibuprofen (IBU), even at high concentrations. Reaction conditions were further optimized by adjusting the reaction time and the ratio between reagents to enhance selectivity and adsorption performance. These results highlight the potential of bio-based MIPs as efficient and selective materials for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2533pharmaceuticalsadsorptionMIPbio-based monomerswastewater treatmentemerging water contaminants |
| spellingShingle | Elettra Savigni Elisa Girometti Laura Sisti Frank Benstoem Davide Pinelli Dario Frascari Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater Molecules pharmaceuticals adsorption MIP bio-based monomers wastewater treatment emerging water contaminants |
| title | Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater |
| title_full | Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater |
| title_fullStr | Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater |
| title_short | Development and Validation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Bio-Based Monomers to Adsorb Carbamazepine from Wastewater |
| title_sort | development and validation of molecularly imprinted polymers with bio based monomers to adsorb carbamazepine from wastewater |
| topic | pharmaceuticals adsorption MIP bio-based monomers wastewater treatment emerging water contaminants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2533 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elettrasavigni developmentandvalidationofmolecularlyimprintedpolymerswithbiobasedmonomerstoadsorbcarbamazepinefromwastewater AT elisagirometti developmentandvalidationofmolecularlyimprintedpolymerswithbiobasedmonomerstoadsorbcarbamazepinefromwastewater AT laurasisti developmentandvalidationofmolecularlyimprintedpolymerswithbiobasedmonomerstoadsorbcarbamazepinefromwastewater AT frankbenstoem developmentandvalidationofmolecularlyimprintedpolymerswithbiobasedmonomerstoadsorbcarbamazepinefromwastewater AT davidepinelli developmentandvalidationofmolecularlyimprintedpolymerswithbiobasedmonomerstoadsorbcarbamazepinefromwastewater AT dariofrascari developmentandvalidationofmolecularlyimprintedpolymerswithbiobasedmonomerstoadsorbcarbamazepinefromwastewater |