Application of molecularly imprinted polymers in the water environmental field: A review on the detection and efficient removal of emerging contaminants

The emerging contaminants in the environment pose a threat to ecological security and human health. At present, traditional technologies are difficult to detect and remove existing trace emerging contaminants in water bodies. Therefore, efficient removal of low concentration emerging contaminants is a key issue in ensuring water safety. As an emerging technology, molecular imprinting technology (MIT) can synthesize polymers with specific recognition ability for target pollutants, providing a new approach for efficient removal of emerging contaminants. It is worth noting that combining MIT with traditional catalysts is an effective method to improve detection limits and removal efficiency. This review mainly introduced the research progress of using MIT to detect pollutants in various sensors and using advanced oxidation technology to remove pollutants in recent years, focusing on the preparation and application of MIT-based photocatalysts, electrocatalysts, and Fenton-like catalysts. In addition, possible interactions between the target analyte and MIT were discussed, as well as the reusability and stability of imprinted catalysts in water treatment, and their potential ecological toxicity risks were analyzed. Finally, the challenges of MIT based pollutant mitigation and the application prospects of molecular imprinting technology in environmental analysis were elaborated from multiple perspectives.