Issue 33, 2021

Synthesis of poly(caprolactone)-block-poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate] amphiphilic grafted nanoparticles (AGNs) as improved oil dispersants

Abstract

Linear-bottlebrush, amphiphilic copolymers were grafted from the surface of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles to form “nanoparticle micelles” that, regardless of the concentration, possess the capability to encapsulate and stabilize non-polar structures in aqueous media. These nanoparticles afford high water dispersibility and enhanced oil encapsulation from their inherent architectural design. Utilizing well-established techniques, such as surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization (SI-ROP) and surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP), to effectively fine-tune the ratio of hydrophobic (poly(caprolactone), PCL) to hydrophilic (poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate mono-methyl ether], POEGMA) copolymer composition, enhances oil encapsulation while maintaining aqueous solubility. Preliminary oil encapsulation was quantified with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using two different types of crude oil. These nanoparticles offer an alternative dispersant system to replace commercially used Corexit™ 9500 by effectively breaking up disastrous oil slicks and minimizing the long-term effects of dispersant additives in the environment.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of poly(caprolactone)-block-poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate] amphiphilic grafted nanoparticles (AGNs) as improved oil dispersants

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Mar 2021
Accepted
08 Jun 2021
First published
15 Jun 2021

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4758-4769

Author version available

Synthesis of poly(caprolactone)-block-poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate] amphiphilic grafted nanoparticles (AGNs) as improved oil dispersants

C. B. Keller, S. E. Walley, C. W. Jarand, J. He, M. Ejaz, D. A. Savin and S. M. Grayson, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 4758 DOI: 10.1039/D1PY00418B

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