L2M – Molecularly imprinted polymers optimized by Hansen solubility parameters for the extraction of phenolic compounds from water samples and water safety monitoring by LC-MS

Monitoring water quality is essential for protecting public health and the environment, yet many harmful pollutants remain difficult and expensive to detect. Among them, phenolic compounds commonly released from industrial activities are persistent, toxic, and often found in Canadian water systems at levels that require advanced laboratory testing. Unfortunately, current sample-preparation methods used to extract these pollutants from water are slow, costly, and not selective enough to reliably detect them at trace levels. These limitations create challenges for environmental labs, municipalities, and industries that are responsible for water safety monitoring.

This project aims to address these challenges by developing a new, more efficient extraction technology using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs). These are synthetic materials designed with highly specific “binding sites” that recognize and capture phenolic pollutants, functioning like a lock-and-key system. Unlike conventional approaches, MIPs can provide stronger selectivity, better sensitivity, and lower cost over time because they require less solvent and preparation.

A key innovation in this project is the use of Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSPs), a scientific framework that predicts how polymers and solvents interact. By applying HSPs, we can design MIPs in a more accurate and data-driven way that are better suited for real-world water testing.

Faculty Supervisor:

Christina Bottaro

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: