Abstract
In this contribution, the development of a process for the synthesis of potentially highly valuable polymeric products from the reaction of waste glycerol with ammonia is reported for the first time. The polymers were the result of a single step, continuous gas phase process, catalysed by an alumina-supported iron catalyst, operating under relatively mild reaction conditions. The solid product was characterised using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, qualitative chemical tests and elemental analysis. Characterisation revealed building blocks with unsaturated, amido and ester functionalities shaping a mixture of polymers. Nitrogen atoms were present in the main chain of the resultant polymers. NMR analyses of the polymer denotes the formation of structural defects such as unsaturation and branching; whilst the partial solubility of the polymer in solvents such as CDCl3 and THF is indicative of the formation of cross-linked structures. Insights into the mechanism of formation of these functional groups were based on the liquid and gas phase product distribution. Polymers with chain structures similar to those synthesised in this work are currently manufactured from fossil fuels and are widely used in biomedical applications not only because of their architecture but also due to their response to changes in pH and temperature.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 279-286 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Chemical Engineering Journal |
| Volume | 291 |
| Issue number | May |
| Early online date | 23 Jan 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Catalytic conversion of glycerol to polymers in the presence of ammonia. / Sánchez, Gizelle; Gaikwad, Vaibhav; Holdsworth, Clovia; Dlugogorski, Bogdan; Kennedy, Eric; Stockenhuber, Michael.
In: Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 291, No. May, 01.05.2016, p. 279-286.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Catalytic conversion of glycerol to polymers in the presence of ammonia
AU - Sánchez, Gizelle
AU - Gaikwad, Vaibhav
AU - Holdsworth, Clovia
AU - Dlugogorski, Bogdan
AU - Kennedy, Eric
AU - Stockenhuber, Michael
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - In this contribution, the development of a process for the synthesis of potentially highly valuable polymeric products from the reaction of waste glycerol with ammonia is reported for the first time. The polymers were the result of a single step, continuous gas phase process, catalysed by an alumina-supported iron catalyst, operating under relatively mild reaction conditions. The solid product was characterised using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, qualitative chemical tests and elemental analysis. Characterisation revealed building blocks with unsaturated, amido and ester functionalities shaping a mixture of polymers. Nitrogen atoms were present in the main chain of the resultant polymers. NMR analyses of the polymer denotes the formation of structural defects such as unsaturation and branching; whilst the partial solubility of the polymer in solvents such as CDCl3 and THF is indicative of the formation of cross-linked structures. Insights into the mechanism of formation of these functional groups were based on the liquid and gas phase product distribution. Polymers with chain structures similar to those synthesised in this work are currently manufactured from fossil fuels and are widely used in biomedical applications not only because of their architecture but also due to their response to changes in pH and temperature.
AB - In this contribution, the development of a process for the synthesis of potentially highly valuable polymeric products from the reaction of waste glycerol with ammonia is reported for the first time. The polymers were the result of a single step, continuous gas phase process, catalysed by an alumina-supported iron catalyst, operating under relatively mild reaction conditions. The solid product was characterised using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, qualitative chemical tests and elemental analysis. Characterisation revealed building blocks with unsaturated, amido and ester functionalities shaping a mixture of polymers. Nitrogen atoms were present in the main chain of the resultant polymers. NMR analyses of the polymer denotes the formation of structural defects such as unsaturation and branching; whilst the partial solubility of the polymer in solvents such as CDCl3 and THF is indicative of the formation of cross-linked structures. Insights into the mechanism of formation of these functional groups were based on the liquid and gas phase product distribution. Polymers with chain structures similar to those synthesised in this work are currently manufactured from fossil fuels and are widely used in biomedical applications not only because of their architecture but also due to their response to changes in pH and temperature.
KW - Ammonia
KW - Glycerol conversion
KW - Iron catalyst
KW - Polymers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957884734&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2016.01.049
DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2016.01.049
M3 - Article
VL - 291
SP - 279
EP - 286
JO - Chemical Engineering Journal
JF - Chemical Engineering Journal
SN - 1385-8947
IS - May
ER -