Hybrid molecularly imprinted membranes for targeted tocopherol: uses of cross-linked copolymer particles prepared by surfactant-free dispersion technique.

Alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) targeted membrane adsorbents were prepared by mixing alpha-Toc imprinted particles in polysulfone (PSf) scaffold. The alpha-Toc imprinted particles were prepared with high-shear dispersion copolymerization of alpha-Toc methacrylate (alpha-TMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) in toluene and water in the agitation range of 300-13,500 rpm. The alpha-Toc groups in resultant imprinted particles were hydrolyzed with 2 M HCl and then the polymers were embedded in PSf membranes by phase inversion technique. The membrane exhibited good selective binding of alpha-Toc with high separation factors to its analogs.