2025 (3) 2
https://doi.org/10.15407/polymerj.47.03.111
DEVELOPMENT OF A COLORIMETRIC SENSOR SYSTEM FOR RAPID OUT-OF-LABORATORY DETECTION OF ATRAZINE
LARYSA GORBACH1* (ОRCID:0000-0003-2711-7244), TETIANA SERGEYEVA2 (ОRCID:0000-0003- 3486-2701) ОLEKSANDR BROVKO1 (ОRCID: 0000-0003-0238-1137)
1Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivske Highway, Kyiv, 02155, Ukraine
e-mail: gorbachla@ukr.net
2Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Str.,Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
Polimernyi Zhurnal, 2025, 47, no. 3: 111-117
Section: Structure and properties.
Language: Ukrainian.
Abstract:
The aim of the work is to investigate the formation of binding sites in atrazine-selective molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and to develop a colorimetric sensor system based on them for rapid out-of-laboratory detection of atrazine. The ability of MIPs to selectively bind the analyte compound (atrazine) and generate a colorimetric sensor response upon interaction with the appropriate reagent was combined. The features of the formation of binding sites in MIPs were studied by infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectra were studied in detail, and the characteristic bands of the starting compounds were confirmed: the functional monomer of methacrylic acid (MAA), atrazine, and compositions based on them. The presence of intermolecular nonspecific interactions between atrazine and MAA molecules was proven. The low energy of these bonds (1-2 kcal/mol) facilitates the removal of atrazine during extraction, leading to the formation of a binding site. The molar ratio between atrazine and functional monomer in the initial monomer mixture was 1:2. The total content of atrazine in the polymer network was 5 wt.%. Studies have shown that MIP selectively binds to atrazine, generating a colorimetric sensory response. In other words, MIP films turn an intense purple color when interacting with the bromophenol blue/AgNO3 color reagent. The resulting colorimetric sensory system provides the highest sensory in comparison to structurally analogous analogues, including metribuzin, desmetrin, and simazine. Digital images of the colored samples were obtained using the camera of smartphone. The color intensity was assessed using the Color Grab software in the RGB color model. The detection limit of atrazine using the developed colorimetric sensor system is 0.9 μM, with an operational range of 0.9 – 2.3 μM.
Keywords: atrazine, colorimetric sensor system, molecularly imprinted polymers
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