title: Polymer-induced recovery of nanoparticles from microemulsions.
abstract: A new isothermal approach to the recovery of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) is demonstrated. The NPs can be incorporated into a background microemulsion (ME) supporting fluid, and they can be recovered by addition of non-adsorbing polymer. A clean liquid-liquid (L-L) phase transition can be readily induced by addition of polymer to the MEs. Furthermore, the L-L transitions are also observed in the presence of added NPs, but now the nanoparticles concentrate in the lower co-existing ME phases. Once recovered, the NPs can be redispersed by adding extra ME as a solvent.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Olesya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Myakonkaya
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eastoe
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grillo
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D033363:Neutron Diffraction; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D011108:Polymers