Atrazine removal by covalent bonding to piperazine functionalized PolyHIPEs

The removal of atrazine from water by a solid phase extraction technique using insoluble polymers is described. Porous crosslinked polymers bearing piperazine moieties were prepared in a one step reaction from the precursor 4-nitrophenylacrylate incorporating polymers (PolyHIPE type prepared by the polymerization of the continuous phase of a high internal phase emulsion and polymer beads prepared by suspension polymerization). Polymers were applied to sequester atrazine from aqueous solutions with a concentration of 33 ppb and irreversible covalent bonding to the polymers was achieved. GC/MS/MS was used to monitor the dynamics of atrazine uptake and it was found that almost complete removal of atrazine was acomplished with an excess of polymer after 48 hours at room temperature. For comparison, polymer beads of identical chemistry but lower porosity were also used and showed significantly slower action (near complete removal after 72 hours).