Inverse vulcanised sulfur polymer nanoparticles prepared by antisolvent precipitation

Abstract

Elemental sulfur is a by-product of the petrochemicals industry. Some use is found in the production of sulfuric acid and fertilizers, however, supply outstrips demand. Recently, polymers formed from elemental sulfur have been discovered. These ‘inverse vulcanised’ polymers have a myriad of potential applications including the selective remediation of mercury contaminated wastewater. Herein, we report the synthesis of inverse vulcanised polymer nanoparticles and demonstrate their affinity and selectivity for the removal of mercury from solution. We also demonstrate the generation of an inverse vulcanised membrane for mercury filtration.