Continuous Synthesis of Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes by Photo-Emulsion Polymerization in a Microreactor

Ziyu Zhang; Yuhua Zhang; Yang Tian; Zhinan Fu; Jiangtao Guo; Guofeng He; Li Li; Fang Zhao; Xuhong Guo

doi:10.3390/polym15234576

Polymers (Nov 2023)

Continuous Synthesis of Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes by Photo-Emulsion Polymerization in a Microreactor

Ziyu Zhang,
Yuhua Zhang,
Yang Tian,
Zhinan Fu,
Jiangtao Guo,
Guofeng He,
Li Li,
Fang Zhao,
Xuhong Guo

Affiliations

Ziyu Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Yuhua Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Yang Tian: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Zhinan Fu: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Jiangtao Guo: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Guofeng He: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Li Li: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Fang Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Xuhong Guo: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234576
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 23
p. 4576

Abstract

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Nanosized spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPBs) are ideal candidates for the preparation of nanometal catalysts, protein separation, and medical diagnostics. Until now, SPBs have been synthesized by photo-emulsion polymerization in a batch reactor, which remains challenging to scale up. This paper reports a successful continuous preparation of SPBs by photo-emulsion polymerization in a self-made microreactor. The effects of residence time, monomer concentration, and feed ratios on the conversion of monomers and SPB structures are systematically investigated by dynamic lighting scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) SPBs obtained in a microreactor exhibiting a narrow size distribution with a short reaction time are very effective in inhibiting the calcium carbonate scale and are comparable to those produced in a batch reactor. This work confirms the feasibility of continuous preparation and scaled-up production of SPBs.

Published in Polymers

ISSN: 2073-4360 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/

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