Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide

Product degradability, sustainability and low-toxicity are driving demand for the synthesis of biobased polymers and surfactants. Here we report the synthesis of novel surface active polymers using cyclic esters (D,L-lactide) and temperature sensitive polyols (D-sorbitol) as renewable building block...

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Main Authors: Goddard, Amy R., Pérez-Nieto, Sara, Passos, Thayse Marques, Quilty, Brid, Carmichael, Kim, Irvine, Derek J., Howdle, Steven M.
Format: Article
Published: Royal Society of Chemistry 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34636/
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author Goddard, Amy R.
Pérez-Nieto, Sara
Passos, Thayse Marques
Quilty, Brid
Carmichael, Kim
Irvine, Derek J.
Howdle, Steven M.
author_facet Goddard, Amy R.
Pérez-Nieto, Sara
Passos, Thayse Marques
Quilty, Brid
Carmichael, Kim
Irvine, Derek J.
Howdle, Steven M.
author_sort Goddard, Amy R.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Product degradability, sustainability and low-toxicity are driving demand for the synthesis of biobased polymers and surfactants. Here we report the synthesis of novel surface active polymers using cyclic esters (D,L-lactide) and temperature sensitive polyols (D-sorbitol) as renewable building blocks. We highlight the modification of chain length and degree of branching to provide a route to tailoring the properties and application performance of these new compounds. High processing temperatures (≥180 °C) and harsh post-reaction treatments are often needed to remove residual monomer and catalysts and these can become barriers to creating materials based on renewable resources. Here we exploit supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a green solvent to overcome these challenges; significantly reducing reaction temperatures, targeting controlled molecular weights with narrow dispersities and reducing sideproduct formation. Additionally in the same pot, we can use supercritical extraction to purify the compounds and to efficiently remove unreacted reagents, which could be recovered and recycled. We believe that our approach to the production and purification of these novel branched poly(lactides) is a significant step towards the development of the next generation of biopolymers and green surfactants, combining both the use of bio-sourced raw materials and the potential to use sustainable, low energy processes and techniques.
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spelling nottingham-346362020-05-04T17:57:33Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34636/ Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide Goddard, Amy R. Pérez-Nieto, Sara Passos, Thayse Marques Quilty, Brid Carmichael, Kim Irvine, Derek J. Howdle, Steven M. Product degradability, sustainability and low-toxicity are driving demand for the synthesis of biobased polymers and surfactants. Here we report the synthesis of novel surface active polymers using cyclic esters (D,L-lactide) and temperature sensitive polyols (D-sorbitol) as renewable building blocks. We highlight the modification of chain length and degree of branching to provide a route to tailoring the properties and application performance of these new compounds. High processing temperatures (≥180 °C) and harsh post-reaction treatments are often needed to remove residual monomer and catalysts and these can become barriers to creating materials based on renewable resources. Here we exploit supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a green solvent to overcome these challenges; significantly reducing reaction temperatures, targeting controlled molecular weights with narrow dispersities and reducing sideproduct formation. Additionally in the same pot, we can use supercritical extraction to purify the compounds and to efficiently remove unreacted reagents, which could be recovered and recycled. We believe that our approach to the production and purification of these novel branched poly(lactides) is a significant step towards the development of the next generation of biopolymers and green surfactants, combining both the use of bio-sourced raw materials and the potential to use sustainable, low energy processes and techniques. Royal Society of Chemistry 2016-06-06 Article PeerReviewed Goddard, Amy R., Pérez-Nieto, Sara, Passos, Thayse Marques, Quilty, Brid, Carmichael, Kim, Irvine, Derek J. and Howdle, Steven M. (2016) Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide. Green Chemistry . ISSN 1463-9270 Polymers Surfactants Supercritical Carbon Dioxide http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/GC/C6GC00745G#!divAbstract doi:10.1039/c6gc00745g doi:10.1039/c6gc00745g
spellingShingle Polymers
Surfactants
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Goddard, Amy R.
Pérez-Nieto, Sara
Passos, Thayse Marques
Quilty, Brid
Carmichael, Kim
Irvine, Derek J.
Howdle, Steven M.
Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
title Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
title_full Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
title_fullStr Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
title_full_unstemmed Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
title_short Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
title_sort controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide
topic Polymers
Surfactants
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34636/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34636/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34636/