Adsorption mechanism and dispersion efficiency of three anionic additives [poly(acrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonate) and HEDP] on zinc oxide

Adsorption on ZnO of sodium poly(acrylate) (PAA), sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and a monomer surfactant [hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP)] was investigated in suspensions initially equilibrated at pH 7. Results demonstrate interplay in the adsorption mechanism between zinc complexation, salt precipitation, and ZnO dissolution. In the case of PAA, the adsorption isotherm exhibits a maximum attributed to the precipitation of zinc polyacrylate. PSS and HEDP formed high-affinity adsorption isotherms, but the plateau adsorption of HEDP was significantly lower than that of PSS. The adsorption isotherm of each additive is divided into two areas. At low additive concentration (high zinc/additive ratio), the total zinc concentration in the solution decreased and the pH increased upon addition. At a higher additive ratio, zinc concentration and pH increased with the organic concentration. The increase in pH is due to the displacement of hydroxyl ions from the surface and the increase in zinc concentration results from the dissolution of ZnO due to the complexation of zinc ions by the organics. The stability of the ZnO dispersions was investigated by measurement of the particle size distribution after addition of various amounts of polymers. The three additives stabilized the ZnO dispersions efficiently once full surface coverage was reached.     

Interactions of quaternary ammonium salt-type gemini surfactants with sodium poly(styrene sulfonate)

The interactions of cationic gemini surfactants, 1,2-bis(alkyldimethylammonio)ethane dibromide (m-2-m: m is hydrocarbon chain length, m = 10 and 12), and an anionic polymer, sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), have been characterized by several techniques such as tensiometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The surface tension of gemini surfactant/PSS mixed systems decreases with surfactant concentration, reaching break points, which are taken as critical aggregation concentrations (cac). The surface tension at the cac of mixtures is higher than that of single surfactants, and it is found that at concentrations above the cac, the surfactant molecules are associated with the polymer in the bulk. The 12-2-12/PSS mixed system shows higher surface activity than both 10-2-10/PSS and the monomeric surfactant of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide/PSS systems. Fluorescence measurements of these mixed systems suggest the formation of a complex with a highly hydrophobic environment in the bulk of the solution. Additionally, dynamic light scattering measurements show that the hydrodynamic diameter of the 12-2-12/PSS mixed system is smaller than that of PSS only at low concentration, indicating interactions between surfactant and polymer. These result from the electrostatic attraction between ammonium and sulfate headgroups as well as the hydrophobic interaction between their hydrocarbon chains.     

Synthesis of poly(styrene sulfonate) brushes.

Dense poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt) brushes were prepared on silicone wafers using a two-step procedure: polystyrene (PS) chains, terminated by a reactive trichlorosilane group, were first covalently grafted, and then the PS brush was converted to a poly(styrene sulfonate) brush by a soft sulfonation reaction. Ellipsometry and infrared spectroscopy in ATR were used to characterize the samples and to optimize the procedure: in particular, the sulfonation was shown to be homogeneous along the chain backbone and the neutralization complete. In some cases, the polymer layer revealed to be quite fragile: the chains were pulled out of the brush. A consolidation treatment which consisted in grafting oligomers inbetween the long PS chains significantly increased the robustness of the layer. This might be relevant for industrial applications.     

Direct synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers, consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) blocks through atom transfer radical polymerization

Amphiphilic block copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (SSNa) were successfully synthesized via direct atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of SSNa. First, poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (PSSNa) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) macroinitiators were prepared using proper ATRP systems for each case. In some cases, functional initiators, which allow further reactions, were used. The macroinitiators were characterized and further used to synthesize PSSNa/PMMA block copolymers, by using proper solvent combinations, such as N,N-dimethylformamide/water or methanol/water at appropriate volume ratios, in order to ensure solubility of the synthesized amphiphilic copolymers. The molecular weight of the copolymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography, using water as eluent. By using a combination of analytical techniques like ¹H NMR, FTIR and thermogravimetry, the chemical structure and the actual copolymer composition were determined. Since, the block copolymers were soluble in water, forming hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains in aqueous solution, their micellization behavior was further studied by pyrene fluorescence probing.     

End-group characterization of poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt) by activated electron photo-detachment dissociation

Tandem mass spectrometry of poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt) (PSS) was performed after activated electron photo-detachment dissociation (activated EPD). In this technique, doubly charged PSS oligomers were first produced in negative mode electrospray ionization, then oxidized into radical anions upon electron photo-detachment using a 220 nm laser wavelength, and further activated by collision. In contrast to the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of negatively charged PSS oligomers, which does not provide informative data with regard to the end-groups, activated-EPD is shown here to promote radical-induced dissociation reactions thanks to the oxidation of a sulfonate group upon laser irradiation. Major product ions generated after backbone bond cleavages contained one or the other chain terminations and could be accounted for by two main mechanisms. Moreover, each of the proposed dissociation reactions was shown to generate two distinct fragments, depending on the location of the oxidized monomer near one or the other chain terminal moieties. As a result, a combination of these two fragments allowed a straightforward mass characterization of each end-group.     

Polysalt complexes of poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) and of poly(crown acrylate)s with polyanions

Macrocyclic polyether or crown ether ester derivatives of acrylic and methacrylic acid were synthesized and polymerized. The cation binding properties of the polymers determined by extraction of picrate salts were similar to those obtained for poly(crown ether)s derived from styrene. In the presence of a crown-complexable cation both polymers form insoluble polysalt complexes with sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium poly(styrene sulfonate), and potassium polyacrylate. The extent of precipitation depends on the type and concentration of cation as well as on the ratio polyanion to poly(crown ether). The precipitate appears to have an equal number of positive and negative charges. An insoluble hydrogen-bonded complex is formed in the absence of salt when poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) and poly(acrylic acid) are mixed in 0.01M HCl. Organic solutes bound to the poly(crown ether)s, which occur in an aqueous mixture of poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) and picrate anions, are precipitated with the poly(crown ether) when the polysalt complex is formed.     

Adsorption of poly(styrene sulfonate) of different molecular weights on alpha-alumina: effect of added sodium dodecyl sulfate

The adsorption of poly(styrene sulfonate), PSS, of different molecular weights (70,000, 500,000, and 1,000,000 mol/kg), from aqueous solutions on alpha-alumina has been investigated. PSS of the lower molecular weight adsorbs less than the others whose adsorption isotherms overlap. The adsorption is found to increase with increasing ionic strength of the solutions indicating that both electrostatic and non-electrostatic contributions are involved in the adsorption process. Upon addition of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, PSS is found to adsorb less the more SDS added. SDS is found to be preferentially adsorbed as shown both from the simultaneous adsorption of the components and also from the sequential adsorption process where SDS in all cases displaces preadsorbed PSS from the solid surface. The displacement of preadsorbed polyelectrolyte by surfactant is a very slow process and the displacement is less pronounced as the molecular mass of the polyelectrolyte increases indicating the fewer number of contact points to the surface. This is further underlined by the effect on the displacement of PSS by SDS upon increasing the ionic strength of the solutions.     

Synthesis of anionic amphiphilic diblock copolymers of poly(styrene) and poly(acrylic acid) by reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP) in solution and emulsion

Reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP), offering the appealing potential of the in situ generation of transfer agents out of molecular iodine I₂, is employed in the synthesis of anionic amphiphilic diblock copolymers of poly(styrene) and poly(acrylic acid). Starting with well‐characterized poly(styrene) as macro‐transfer agents synthesized by RITP, diblock copolymers poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) of various lengths are successfully yielded in solution with a good architectural control. These blocks are then subjected to acid deprotection and subsequent pH control to give rise to anionic amphiphilic poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(acrylic acid). Besides, homopolymers of tert‐butyl acrylate are produced by RITP both in solution and in emulsion. Furthermore, a fruitful trial of the synthesis of diblock copolymers poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(styrene) is carried out through chain extension of the poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) latex as a macro‐transfer agent in seeded emulsion polymerization of styrene. Finally, the prepared block copolymer is deprotected to bring about its amphiphilic nature and a pH control caters for its anionic character. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4389–4398     

Hollow microstructures of polypyrrole doped by poly(styrene sulfonic acid)

Microstructures with hollow interiors, such as microspheres, microcrocks, microbowls, and micropumpkins, were prepared through the direct electrochemical oxidation of pyrrole in an aqueous solution of poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA). Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the microstructures possessed hollow interiors. The addition of polymeric doping ions made the skins of the microstructures very smooth, and several novel structures were observed. The morphology of the microstructures was simply modulated through changes in the electrochemical conditions. Raman and Fourier transform infrared characterizations indicated that the microstructures were made of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) doped by polymeric anions of poly(styrene sulfonate), and X‐ray diffraction showed that the microstructures were amorphous. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that PPy–PSSA composite films with microstructures had higher thermal stability than pure PPy, PPy‐coated PSSA microspheres, and naphthalene sulfonic acid doped PPy microstructures. Furthermore, PPy–PSSA composite films with microstructures showed cation‐exchange behavior during the redox process in aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3170–3177, 2004     

Synthesis of poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐b‐poly(styrene sulfonate) block copolymers by controlled radical polymerizations

Block copolymers based on poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and a series of poly(aromatic sulfonate) sequences were synthesized from controlled radical polymerizations (CRPs). According to the aromatic monomers, appropriate techniques of CRP were chosen: either iodine transfer polymerization (ITP) or atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from PVDF‐I macromolecular chain transfer agents (CTAs) or PVDF‐CCl₃ macroinitiator, respectively. These precursors were produced either by ITP of VDF with C₆F₁₃I or by radical telomerization of VDF with chloroform, respectively. Poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐b‐poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), PVDF‐b‐PSSS, block copolymers were produced from both techniques via a direct polymerization of sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) monomer or an indirect way with the use of styrene sulfonate ethyl ester (SSE) as a protected monomer. Although the reaction led to block copolymers, the kinetics of ITP of SSS showed that PVDF‐I macromolecular CTAs were not totally efficient because a limitation of the CTA consumption (56%) was observed. This was probably explained by both the low activity of the CTA (that contained inefficient PVDF‐CF₂CH₂? I) and a fast propagation rate of the monomer. That behavior was also noted in the ITP of SSE. On the other hand, ATRP of SSS initiated by PVDF‐CCl₃ was more controlled up to 50% of conversion leading to PVDF‐b‐PSSS block copolymer with an average number molar mass of 6000 g·mol^?1. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Interactions of hydrophobically modified poly(sodium acrylate) with globular proteins

The association of a series of hydrophobically modified poly(sodium acrylate) (HMPA) with lysozyme, a cationic globular protein, or with bovine serum albumin (BSA), an anionic globular protein, was investigated at pH=9 by rheology and to a lesser extent by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Under suitable concentration conditions, this association leads to a drastic viscosity enhancement which is improved when the polymer hydrophobicity is increased. A mechanism is proposed: the hydrophobic regions of the globular proteins interact strongly with the alkyl groups of one or more polymer chains. In the later case, the macromolecules are crosslinked via the proteins, which leads to viscosity enhancement and even gelation. Analogies and differences between these systems and surfactant/HMPA systems previously studied in our laboratory are emphasized and discussed.     

An analysis of the kinetics of oxidation of ascorbate at poly(aniline)-poly(styrene sulfonate) modified microelectrodes

A detailed kinetic study is provided for the oxidation of ascorbate at poly(aniline)-poly(styrene sulfonate) coated microelectrodes. Flat films with a low degree of polymer spillover and a thickness much lower than the microelectrode radius were produced by controlled potentiodynamic electrodeposition. The currents for ascorbate oxidation are found to be independent of the polymer thickness, indicating that the reaction occurs at the outer surface of the polymer film. At low ascorbate concentrations, below around 40 mM, the currents are found to be mass transport limited. At higher ascorbate concentrations the currents became kinetically limited. The experimental data for measurements at a range of potentials are fitted to a consistent kinetic model and the results summarized in a case diagram. The results obtained for the poly(aniline)-(polystyrene sulfonate) coated microelectrode are compared to those for a poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulfonate) coated microelectrode and to the results of an earlier study of the reaction at poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulfonate) coated rotating disc electrodes. For poly(aniline)-poly(styrene sulfonate) the oxidation of ascorbate is found to proceed by one electron reaction whereas for poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulfonate) the reaction is found to be a two electron oxidation.     

Infinite-dilution viscoelastic properties of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate)

The storage and loss shear moduli G′ and G″ of dilute solutions of two samples of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) with molecular weights (M) of 3.28 × 10⁵ have been measured. The Birnboim–Schrag multiple-lumped resonator technique was used in the frequency range 100–8000 Hz, and the intrinsic moduli were obtained by extrapolation to infinite dilution. Measurements were performed over the temperature range from 1.0 to 25.0°C in aqueous solvents containing from 0 to 60% by weight glycerol and from 0.001 to 0.005M added salt. The large intrinsic viscosities indicated high extension of the polymer, and the frequency dependences of G′ and G″ were matched well by hybrid relaxation spectra combining rodlike and coil-like behavior. In a solvent containing 0.001M sodium ion and no glycerol, the end-over-end rotational relaxation times for the two molecular weights corresponded to proportionality to the 1.7 power of M. With increasing molecular weight, ionic strength, and/or glycerol concentration, the polyelectrolyte appeared to become less extended, and its behavior more nearly coil-like.     

Conformations of sodium poly(styrene-4-sulfonate) macromolecules in solutions with different ionic strengths

Translational friction and viscosity of dilute solutions of sodium poly(styrene-4-sulfonate) with molecular masses of M = (5 × 10⁴)−(85 × 10⁴) are studied at different concentrations of low-molecular-mass salts. Molecular masses of the polymer are determined from the sedimentation-diffusion data. The study of the correlation between molecular masses and hydrodynamic characteristics resulted in ascertainment of the Kuhn-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada relationships for salt-free aqueous solutions of the polymer and solutions of the polymer in 0.2 M NaCl, 4.17 M NaCl, and 1.0 M KCl. It is shown that, as the ionic strengths of solutions are varied from minimum (H₂O) to maximum (4.17 M), macromolecules of the strong polyelectrolyte sodium poly(styrene-4-sulfonate) change their conformations from rigid rods to coils and, then, approach a globular conformation. In terms of the Gray-Bloomfield-Hearst and Yamakawa-Fujii theories and within the framework of the weakly bent cylinder model, the statistical Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) chains are estimated in 0.2 and 4.17 M NaCl, 1.0 M KCl, and salt-free aqueous solutions. The electrostatic component of the equilibrium rigidity is taken into account within the framework of the Odijk-Fixman-Skolnick and Dobrynin theories.     

Terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate with methacrylic acid and sodium styrene sulfonate: determination of the reactivity ratios

Materials bearing ionic monomers were obtained through free radical terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PMEM) or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate (PEEM) with methacrylic acid (MA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (NaSS). The reactions were carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide using azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. The reactivity ratios of the different couple of monomers were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using the Finnemann-Ross, Kelen-Tüdos and Tidwell-Mortimer methods. The values of the reactivity ratios indicate that the different monomer units can be considered as randomly distributed along the chains for terpolymerizations of MMA, PMEM or PEEM with MA and NaSS. The average composition of the comonomers in the different terpolymers were calculated, showing a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical compositions. The instantaneous compositions are constant until about 70% of conversion. For higher conversions, the insertion of ionic monomers increases or decreases according to the system studied.     

Effect of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate to the displacement performance of hyperbranched polymer

Experimental studies were conducted to realize displacement performance effect of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) on hyperbranched poly(AM/AA/AMPS/GA), which was successfully synthesized via free radical polymerization using modified dendritic functional monomer (GA), acrylamide (AM), acrylate (AA), and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS). Compared with individual polymer, SP (surfactant polymer) binary systems showed lower apparent viscosity, interfacial tension, and hydrodynamic radius as the result of the electrostatic repulsion between the tail end of hydrophilic polymer branched chain and the head of the surfactant. It was found from abundant static adsorption and dynamic retention tests that the values of static adsorption and dynamics retention of SDBS which is mixed with hyperbranched polymer decrease due to the competitive interaction. However, unlike this phenomenon, SDBS would heighten the dynamic retention value of poly(AM/AA/AMPS/GA), resulting in addition of residual resistance factor. Oil displacement experiment indicated that SP solutions have greater capability of enhance oil recovery than individual polymer under same conditions.     

Preparation of ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate) structural latexes via seeded emulsion polymerization

Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) structural latexes were synthesized in a two-stage seeded emulsion polymerization. In the first-stage, partially cross-linked poly (n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) and poly (n-butyl acrylate-stat-2-ethyl hexyl acrylate) P (nBA-stat-2EHA) (75/25 by wt) rubber cores were synthesized, and then in the second-stage, a hard poly (styrene-stat-acrylonitrile) (SAN) (70/30 by wt) shell was grafted on to the rubber seeds. The effects of surfactant type and second-stage monomer addition mode have been investigated on the final morphology of two-stage emulsion particles. The results indicated that an application of anionic surfactant, that is, sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS), along with sodium persulfate (KPS) initiator for both stages, and with first-stage tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and second-stage KPS initiators led to a hemisphere particle morphology. On the other hand, raspberry and core-shell structures were observed for the structural latexes, which were prepared using a non-ionic surfactant, that is, nonylphenol ethoxylated polyethylene glycol (Igepal CO-850), accompanying KPS initiator for both stages. It is clear, however, that the relative surface hydrophilicity of the core phase, altered by the surfactant type considerably affected the type of morphology formed. For obtained structural latexes, the gradual addition of the second-stage monomers to the core latexes resulted in a fairly real core-shell structure with a higher shell thickness. On the contrary, a raspberry structure in which the rubber phase was enlarged by the second-stage polymer microdomains was observed for the second-stage monomer addition batch. In fact, the shell semi-batch polymerization conditions lower the shell plasticizing effect, and increase the kinetic barrier to prevent from further second-stage monomer diffusion and microdomain formation within the rubbery phase.     

Soluble complexes of sodium poly(isoprene-b-methacrylate) micelles with cationic surfactants in aqueous media

Water-soluble complexes between sodium poly(isoprene-b-methacrylate) (NaIMA) amphiphilic block copolymer micelles and two cationic surfactants with different hydrophobic tail lengths, namely, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTMAB) and octyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTMAB), were prepared by mixing individual aqueous solutions of block copolymers and surfactants. The complexes were characterized in terms of size, overall charge, and micropolarity by dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential measurements, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Properties of the systems were investigated as a function of surfactant concentration and surfactant type and state in the initial solutions, as well as temperature. Experiments reveal surfactant complexation at the coronal sodium poly(methacrylate) (NaMA) chains, followed by an increase in mass and a decrease in size of the micelles. Complexation of individual surfactant micelles was observed when the DTMAB concentration in the starting solutions was higher than the surfactant cmc. The complexes show a temperature dependence of their dimension due to the hydrophobic effect.     

Aromatic-aromatic interaction between 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)

Aromatic-aromatic interactions are found between the cationic molecule 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and the molecule poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) which makes the overall interaction of TTC with PSS more intense than the interaction with other polyanions containing sulfonate groups and produces a decrease on the redox ability of TTC. Diafiltration was used to compare the binding of TTC to PSS, poly(sodium vinylsulfonate) (PVS), and the more hydrophobic poly(sodium 2-(N-acrylamido)-2-methyl-propanesulfonate) (PAMPS). The UV-vis spectrum of TTC is changed in the presence of the aromatic polyanion. The 1H NMR signals of TTC are broadened and shifted in the presence of PSS, suggesting the occurrence of pi-pi interactions. Moreover, nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE) between the TTC and PSS protons are found. Possible structures for the complex are proposed.     

Comparative study of polymeric stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles using ATRP

A series of polyelectrolytes with controlled molecular weight, a narrow chain-length distribution, and systematic structural differences were synthesized using atom-transfer radical polymerization and investigated as stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions. Structural differences include the degree of polymerization, the chain architecture, and the identity of the charged functional unit. The synthesized polymers are sulfonated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), a block copolymer of the former with poly(n-butyl methacrylate), poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), poly(sodium acrylate), and poly(sodium vinylphosphonate). The colloidal stability is assessed by measuring the fraction of particles, based on turbidity, that sediment after a period of time at increasing ionic strength. Sedimentation results are complimented by dynamic light scattering determinations of the hydrodynamic diameter of the particles that remain suspended. When adsorption and sedimentation are conducted at high pH, poly(sodium acrylate) and poly(sodium vinylphosphonate) yield the most stable suspensions because of their strong coordinative interactions with the iron oxide surface. At low pH, the polymers that retain pendant negative charges (each of the sulfonated polymers) yield high stable fractions at all ionic strengths investigated up to 100 mM (NaCl), whereas polyelectrolytes that become protonated with decreasing pH, poly(sodium acrylate) and poly(sodium vinylphosphonate), lose their stabilizing capacity even at low ionic strengths. The chain-length distribution profoundly alters a polymer's stabilization tendencies. Two poly(sodium acrylate) samples with the same number-average molecular weight but widely different chain-length distributions proved to have opposite tendencies, with the polydisperse sample being a good stabilizer and the low polydispersity one being a strong flocculant. This investigation provides guidelines for the design of polymeric stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles according to the pH and ionic strength of the intended application.