Synthesis and implementation of gelatin/polyvinylpyrrolidone semi-interpenetrating polymer network scaffold as a biocompatible extractive phase

This work introduces a biocompatible gelatin/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) semi interpenetrating polymer network (semi–IPN) scaffold for extraction of contaminants from real samples. Interpenetrating polymer networks, due to their simultaneous possession of two or more polymers, could be preserved characteristics of individual constituent polymers. Choosing appropriate polymers, reagents and their ratio could control IPN different features like porosity, elasticity and swelling [1]. Biopolymers as non–toxic, inexpensive and biocompatible materials have prominent capability for analysis of environmental and biological samples [2]. Gelatin is a protein derived from partial hydrolysis of collagen which because of different reactive functional groups could be interpenetrated within PVP as a biocompatible industrial polymer [3]. Herein, gelatin/PVP semi–IPN scaffolds have been fabricated by freeze drying technique and cross linked with gluteraldehyde to induce a porous structure. The synthesized gelatin/PVP semi–IPN scaffolds were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE–SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The proposed scaffold was used as the extractive medium for needle trap device (NTD). The whole method, considered as a green chemistry approach for the determination of chlorobenzene and benzene derivatives of benzene, toluene, ethylebenzene and xylene (BTEX) using gas chromatography–flame ionization detector. The extractive phase performance was checked using different ratios of gelatin and PVP (gel/PVP: 1:0, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 0:1). Eventually, the best IPN achieved at the ratio of gel/PVP (1:2) was used as the extractive phase and effects of different parameters containing extraction and desorption time, extraction and desorption temperature, sampling flow rate and salt concentration for BTEX extraction were evaluated.