Optical resolution of phenylalanine using D-Phe-imprinted poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylonitrile) membrane - pH effect on performance

The molecular imprinting technique was used for chiral resolution of phenylalanine (phe). the template was introduced during polymerization and removed after polymerization by leaving imprinted cavities in the polymer matrix correspondence to template. the d-phe imprinted membrane selectively adsorbed d-phe,facilitated permeation of d-phe and rejected l-phe. these results are evidence of the availability of the chiral environment in the membrane. the membrane was found to be ph sensitive,with 0.30 rejection selectivity,2.40 adsorption selectivity and 2.03 permselectivity being achieved at ph-2. ft-ir and fe-sem analyses revealed that the membrane was nano-porous and very thin.