Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for selective removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in aqueous solution.

In this study, novel molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMCN@MIPs) were prepared by covalent grafting of ofloxacin-imprinted polymer onto the surface of mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (MCNs). SEM analyses indicated that the prepared nanoMCN@MIPs were almost uniform, and their geometrical mean diameter was about 230 nm. The sorption behaviors of the nanoMCN@MIPs including sorption kinetics and isotherms, effect of pH, ionic strength, and cross-reactivity were investigated in detail. The adsorption capacity of the nanoparticles for ofloxacin was 40.98 mg/g, with a selectivity factor of 2.6 compared to the nonimprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMCN@NIPs). The feasibility of removing fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) from environmental waters with the nanoMCN@MIPs was demonstrated using sea water spiked with six typical FQs (ofloxacin, gatifloxacin, balofloxcacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin and sarafloxacin). The nanoMCN@MIPs could be reused at least five times with removal efficiency more than 90% except for norfloxacin.