Synthesis of cyclic polystyrene in supercritical carbon dioxide green solvent

This study presents the synthesis of cyclic polystyrene (cPS) in the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) media for the first time. For this purpose, first of all alpha omega difunctionalized polystyrene was prepared in the SC-CO2 solvent within the pressure range from 100 to 230 bar and at a temperature below the conventional methods 80 degrees C. The end-to-end reaction method was then used to make cPS in SC-CO2 solvent with CH2Cl2 as a co-solvent. The effects of several factors such as pressure, time, and initiator concentration on polymer yield, morphology, and molecular weight were studied. FTIR, H-1 NMR, GPC, HPLC, DSC, TGA and SEM analyses were used to characterize the product and evaluate the effect of mentioned factors. The results indicated a prominent influence of SC-CO2 pressure on the product. Applying a green solvent, such as SC-CO2 allows us to produce a clean polymer with lower molecular weight and higher environmental compatibility.

Automated summary

This study presents the first synthesis of cyclic polystyrene (cPS) in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) media. The results show that the SC-CO2 pressure has a significant influence on the yield and properties of the product. The use of environmentally friendly solvents allows for the production of polymers with lower molecular weight and higher environmental compatibility.