2002 Volume 56 Issue 3 Pages 228-233
We have created a novel resin that shows a high selectivity to a target Li (I) ion by means of a surface molecular imprinting technique. With this technique, the organic-aqueous interface of W/O emulsions is utilized as a recognition field for a water-soluble targeted metal ion. The target lithium ion forms a complex with functional host molecules at the oil-water interface, and the orientation of the functional molecules is immobilized. After the matrix is polymerized, the coordination structure is eventually“imprinted” on the polymer surface. We used β-diketone as the functional molecule and phosphine oxide as the synergistic reagent. The Li (I)-imprinted polymer with both the reagents exhibited high adsorption ability toward the target Li (I) ion. On the other hand, the Li (I)-imprinted polymer using β-diketone or phosphine oxide alone afforded no adsorption affinity to Li (I). This is the first report to utilize a synergistic effect in a molecular imprinting technique.
