@article {C2RA20426F,
	title = {Supercritical fluid technology as a new strategy for the development of semi-covalent molecularly imprinted materials},
	journal = {RSC Adv.},
	volume = {2},
	year = {2012},
	note = {n/a},
	pages = {5075-5079},
	publisher = {The Royal Society of Chemistry},
	abstract = {<p>Molecularly imprinted polymeric particles with molecular recognition towards Bisphenol A (BPA) were synthesized for the first time using the semi-covalent imprinting approach in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The material{{\textquoteright}}s affinity to BPA was achieved by co-polymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) with a template-containing monomer{,} Bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BPADM) in scCO2. Bisphenol A is then cleaved from the polymeric matrix by hydrolysis with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (n-Bu4OH) also in a supercritical environment{,} taking advantage of the high diffusivity of scCO2. The selectivity of the molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) was assessed by evaluating its capability to bind BPA in comparison with progesterone and [small alpha]-ethinylestradiol. In addition{,} the cross-linked particles were used to prepare a PMMA-based hybrid imprinted membrane by a scCO2-assisted phase inversion method. Results show that the incorporation of MIP particles was able to confer molecular affinity to BPA to the membrane and that at dynamic conditions of filtration{,} this imprinted porous structure was able to adsorb a higher amount of BPA than the corresponding non-imprinted hybrid membrane. Our work represents a valuable greener alternative to conventional methods{,} for the synthesis of affinity materials which are able to maintain molecular recognition properties in water.</p>
},
	doi = {10.1039/C2RA20426F},
	url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C2RA20426F},
	author = {Mara Soares da Silva and Raquel Viveiros and Aguiar-Ricardo, Ana and Bonifacio, Vasco D. B. and Casimiro, Teresa}
}
