Paper Title
Preparation and Characterization of Molecularly Imprinted O-Cresol Via Sol-Gel Polymerization

Abstract
In this study, a new composite of o-cresol molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared via sol-gel polymerization using o-cresol as the template molecule, 3-propyl(metacrylate)trimethoxysilane (3-PMTMOS) as the functional monomer, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the cross-linker and ethanol as the porogenic solvent. This analyte was selected as a template due to the fact that it is one of toluene metabolites. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was employed as an adsorbent for the extraction of o-cresol, a metabolite in urine sample for the monitoring of occupational toluene exposure in workers. The MIP prepared using 800 µL of 3-(propylmethacrylate)trimethoxysilane), 12 mL of ethanol, 12 mL of TEOS,0.05 mmol o-cresol and 400 µL of Hydrochloric acid was found to exhibit better sorption for o-cresol. The characterization of MIP and NIP were observed using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), while texture properties by N2 adsorption analysis and Field emission scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive x-ray (FESEM-EDX). Keywords- o-cresol, Toluene metabolite, Molecularly imprinted polymer, Sol-gel polymerization.