Synthesis of a new molecularly imprinted polymer for sorption of the silver ions from geological and antiseptic samples for determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

A new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized using methacrylic acid (functional monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (crosslinker), 2,2'-azobisisobutironitril (initiator), silver (Ag) dithizone complex (template), and chloroform (porogenic solvent). This process was a noncovalent, bulk, thermal radical-polymerization. To compare the performance of this polymer, control polymer (nonimprinted polymer) was prepared under well-defined conditions without the use of a template. Extraction experiments were performed on the MIP and a nonimprinted polymer. Then, various parameters were optimized, such as pH, time, concentration of sample, and type of eluent for elution of Ag from polymer. In addition, interfering effects were investigated on the absorption of Ag by the MIP. This polymer was used for the rapid extraction and preconcentration of Ag from an antiseptic and geological sample. Finally, the amount of Ag was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by the synthesized MIP, and results were compared with a direct inductively coupled plasma method. The results showed high performance of this method in preconcentration of Ag.