Spectroscopic Analysis of Poly (Methacrylic Acid-co-Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate) Submicron Particles by Fluorescence Emission and Light Scattering upon Binding with 17β-Estradiol in Water Treatment


An investigation of light scattering of non-imprinted poly methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PMAA-co-EGDMA) submicron particles (300±5 nm) in aqueous suspension before and after 17β-estradiol (E2) binding was conducted by using a spectrofluorimeter. An optimal excitation wavelength to determine Mie scattering from these submicron particles was 725±1 nm for the highest intensity. This light scattering from non-imprinted polymer (NIP) submicron particles in aqueous suspension was increased by spiking E2 at various concentrations (from 0.1 to 1.0 ppm). Thus, a new alternative method was found to determine E2 in a water sample by measurement of light scattering from NIP particles using spectrofluorimetry. Furthermore, the light scattering at 725 nm from E2 solution was increased by spiking NIP particles at various concentrations (from 0.02 to 0.12 ppm) but the fluorescence emission essentially stayed constant. The fluorescence emission from E2, however, increased more significantly in the presence of NIP particles than E2 spiking into water alone.