Development and characterization of polymer and composite materials for the detection of metal cations. Application: monitoring of the water quality in Toulon harbor
Supervisor: BRANGER Catherine
Co-supervisor : ARAB Madjid (IM2NP)
Co-supervisor: LENOBLE Veronique (Laboratoire PROTEE)
Abstract:
The goal of this research work is to develop new tools to monitor the water quality . This thesis is a part of a project of the MEDD pole (Sea Environment and Sustainable Development) set up in Toulon University .
The aim is to take advantage of non-expensive detection methods such as fluorescence and electrochemistry. Therefore, the goal of the project is to develop new ion imprinted polymer materials which will be specific to a target cation and which will include either a fluorescence probe or an electrochemical part. One of the objective is to be able to develop new sensors allowing direct, quantitative and on-site metal ions measurements.
Ion Imprinted polymers are materials designed to recognize specific target species like antibody-antigen systems. This property is due to the way these material are synthesized. First, a functional monomer specifically interacts with the target species. Then, a copolymerization step with a crosslinking agent allows to prepare the polymer network around the target species. Eventually, the extraction of the latter generates specific recognition sites similar to those carried by enzymes.
This thesis research work extends from the synthesis of new monomers integrating a specific chelating part to the characterization and the development of the sensors.
