Synthesis, Evaluation, and Characterization of an Ergotamine Imprinted Styrene-Based Polymer for Potential Use as an Ergot Alkaloid Selective Adsorbent

Alkaloid toxicities negatively impact livestock health and production. To assess alkaloid occurrences, adsorbent technologies may offer effective means to their extraction and isolation from a complex feed matrix. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their specificity of binding to various ergot alkaloids. Co-polymers of styrene and hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesized in the absence or presence of an ergotamine (ETA) template, yielding non-imprinted polymer (NIP) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), respectively. The influence of parameters such as pH, temperature, and initial concentration on the adsorption of ergot alkaloids was evaluated along with their application as solid phase extraction materials. Chemical and morphological properties were characterized. Adsorption was generally greater for MIP compared to NIP. Cross-reactivity with related alkaloids existed due to similarities in structure and functional groups and was dependent on the type and concentration of alkaloid and polymer type (alkaloid type × concentration × product; P < 0.05). The pH of the medium had no influence on the binding properties of polymers toward ETA within a pH range of 2-10. Binding was independent of temperature between 36 and 42 °C. When kinetics of adsorption were evaluated, the Langmuir isotherm had a better fit (R ² > 0.95) to adsorption equilibrium data than the Freundlich equation. The maximum amounts adsorbed (Q _o) from the Langmuir model were 8.68 and 7.55 μM/g for MIP and NIP, respectively. Fourier transform infrared, scanning and tandem electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis confirmed a highly porous MIP structure with a greater surface area compared to NIP. Binding characteristics evaluated with computational strategy using molecular docking experiments and in vitro in a complex media (rumen fluid) indicated a stronger ETA adsorption by the tested composition selected among other polymeric materials and affinity of MIP compared with NIP. This study suggested the possible utility of MIP as a solid phase extraction sorbent for applications in analytical chemistry or sensing devices tailored to track ergot alkaloid incidence and the fate of those alkaloids in complex ruminal digestive samples.

Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the adsorption of 4-nitrophenol on graphene from aqueous solution

Graphene is a newly discovered material and is considered to be the new wonder material for many applications. The recent possibility of obtaining pure and fully characterized graphene opens the door to the study of the adsorption of toxic materials on graphene. The adsorption behavior of p-nitrophenol on graphene was studied in aqueous medium. The effect of each of pH, temperature, and dosage was emphasized. The highest calculated adsorption capacity of 4-nitrophenol was found to be 15.5 mg/g, assuming Langmuir fitting starting from 11.1 mg/g initial concentration at 298 K and pH = 6. Fitting the data using the Freundlich isotherm model predicted a favorable adsorption process (n > 1). The rise and saturation areas of the isotherms were fitted as pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order processes, respectively, with relatively good fit (k1 = 0.0023/s, k2 = 0.68 g mg−1 s−1). The thermodynamic properties indicated a spontaneous and exothermic process.

Nanostructured microporous polymer composite imprinted with superhydrophobic camphor soot, for emphatic oil–water separation

The pollution of water devastatingly affects the marine environment by physical smothering and intoxication.

Superhydrophobic activated carbon-coated sponges for separation and absorption

Highly porous activated carbon with a large surface area and pore volume was synthesized by KOH activation using commercially available activated carbon as a precursor. By modification with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), highly porous activated carbon showed superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 163.6°. The changes in wettability of PDMS- treated highly porous activated carbon were attributed to the deposition of a low-surface-energy silicon coating onto activated carbon (confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), which had microporous characteristics (confirmed by XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses). Using an easy dip-coating method, superhydrophobic activated carbon-coated sponges were also fabricated; those exhibited excellent absorption selectivity for the removal of a wide range of organics and oils from water, and also recyclability, thus showing great potential as efficient absorbents for the large-scale removal of organic contaminants or oil spills from water.