Sporopollenin-Supported Ionic Liquids Biosorbent for the Enhanced Selective Adsorption of 2,4-Dinitrophenol from an Aqueous Environment
Dr Naimah Binti Haron, who is an academic member of MAHSA University’s Centre of Pre-University Studies, has co-authored with K. Chandrasekaram, on a research paper which was recently published in the Materials Today Communications.
This study attempts to bring about a facile approach to selectively adsorb 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) from an aqueous system using sporopollenin supported ionic liquid (SpIL) biosorbent, namely sporopollenin supported methylimidazolium
(Sp-MIM).
Sporopollenin acts as the host with the accessible chamber, while methyl-imidazolium acts as the active site that binds 2,4-DNP from the aqueous system. Based on the study, methylimidazolium’s immobilisation onto sporopollenin increased pore size distinctly from 5.06 nm to 44.94 nm, thereby reporting definitive mesoporous structure with a pronounced affinity towards 2,4-DNP, determined via a series of analyte screening.
Adsorption parameter exploration revealed 15 mg of Sp-MIM was able to adsorb 84% of 2,4-DNP from 20 ppm concentrated aqueous solution within 15 min of contact under acidic condition (pH 4) and could be reused up to 5 cycles without any loss to adsorption percentage. The affinity of Sp-MIM towards 2,4-DNP was further explored employing computational calculations using molecular docking and quantum mechanics, both of which support the presence of π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding between Sp-MIM and 2,4-DNP.
We would like to congratulate Dr, Naimah for this publication.