Use of polymer nanoparticles as functional nano-absorbents for low-molecular weight hydrophobic pollutants.
To use amphiphilic polymer nanoparticles as a new nano-absorbent for improving environmental process, urethane acrylate nonionomer (UAN) chain having hydrophobic polypropylene oxide-based segment and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide-based segment at the same backbone was synthesized and dispersed as nanoparticles at water phase without using a surfactant or dispersion agent. These UAN nanoparticles were converted to crosslinked amphiphilic polymer (CAP) nanoparticles through soap-free emulsion polymerization and suspension agent-free suspension polymerization process. Emulsion polymerization process exhibited higher conversion of polymerization compared to suspension polymerization process. CAP nanoparticles showed interfacial activity and solubilize hydrophobic pollutants (phenanthrene and toluene) like surfactant micelles. This result indicates possible application of CAP nanoparticles as nano-absorbent for improving efficiency of soil washing and micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) process.
Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, Kangwon 245-711, Korea.
Ju-Young
JY
Kim
James
J
Wainaina
Jung-Hun
JH
Kim
Jin-Kie
JK
Shim
D000042:Absorption; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011140:Polyurethanes; D014873:Water Pollutants; C050845:urethane acrylate