Methods for preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers for wine extraction

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and for making improved molecularly imprinted polymers useful for extracting target molecule compounds of wine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for extraction of at least one target molecule component of wine comprising:
 a) forming a first solution comprising a solvent, a monomer and a target molecule or a target molecule analog to form a first solution;   b) stirring said first solution;   c) adding a cross linker to said stirred first solution to form a second solution;   d) stirring said second solution for 5 to 18 hours;   e) adding a polymerization initiator to said stirred second solution to form a third solution;   f) forming the MIP by polymerization of the monomer and the crosslinker, the MIP being associated with the target molecule or target molecule analog;   g) isolating the MIP from said third solution; and   h) removing at least some of the target molecule or target molecule analog from the MIP.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solvent is a polar protic solvent other than water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monomer is selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl pyrrolidone and hydroxyethylmethacrylate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cross linker is ethylene dimethacrylate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of crosslinker to monomer is 1.5:1 to 6:1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target molecule is 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-methoxypyrazine, 2-phenylethyl alcohol, guaiacol, or 4-methylguaiacol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second solution is stirred from 5 to 12 hours. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerization initiator is a dialkyldiazine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MIP is in the form of particles having an average size from 100 nm to 1 micrometer 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the MIP is in the form of particles having an average size from 100 nm to 500 nm.