The mechanism s of selectivity

The mechanism of selectivity proposed by Polyakov [8] was vague and, as stated, did not receive much attention. Moreover, the instructional theory from which 

Dickey had found inspiration for his work was under debate, which obviously influenced the credibility of its application to the silica system. An active scientific debate ensued regarding the nature of the mechanisms responsible for ligand recognition in these imprinted silicas, with two opposing schools of thought. 

---