Kinetics of Mass Transfer in the Melt Polycondensation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)

For a four-parameter reaction-mass transport model of melt polycondensation, the constants of polycondensation, thermolysis, and diffusion were determined by means of experiments in thin-layer polycondensation. Based on these constants, the convectional mass transport and efficient melt thickness in polycondensation systems under conditions of compelled mixing can be estimated. However, for stirred polycondensation systems a reaction-mass transfer model proves more suitable. The constants of polycondensation and thermolysis obtained by the diffusion model can be transferred to the reaction-mass transfer model. Thus, only the mass transfer coefficient has to be determined.     

Diffusion and reaction in polyester melts

An understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved in the melt polymerization of polyesters in the higher inherent viscosity ranges is of fundamental importance in polyester preparation. For example, the volatile condensation product must diffuse to a polymer–vapor interface before polymerization can take place. Thus, the rate of polymerization of a polyester may be dependent not only upon the chemical kinetics of the polymerization reaction but also upon the diffusion of the condensation product through the polymer melt. The objective of the work presented in this paper was to determine to what degree diffusion or reaction kinetics, or both, limit the melt polycondensation of poly(ethylene terephthalate). Degrees of polymerization in melts between 0.0285 and 0.228 cm in depth at 270°C were measured for various reaction times and were compared with the predictions of mathematical models. The polycondensation rates under these conditions depend upon both the polycondensation rate constant k₁ and the diffusivity D of ethylene glycol through the melt. Estimates of the values to these parameters are: k₁ = 0.0500 (moles/mole of repeat unit)^?1 sec^?1; D = 1.66 × 10^?4 cm²/sec.     

Study on the Extraction Kinetics of Ketoconazole with Hydroxypropyl‐β‐Cyclodextrin as a Selector

This paper reports on the kinetics of extraction of ketoconazole enantiomers in a Lewis cell, which accompanies by an inclusion reaction. The mass transfer model of the extraction process is established based on the homogeneous reaction mechanism and two‐film theory. Factors such as stirring speed, phase contact area, and ketoconazole concentration are separately investigated. The obtained data show the inclusion reaction is a fast reaction. The reactions have been found to be first order for ketoconazole enantiomers and second order for hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin with forward rate constants of 1.716 × 10⁻³ m⁶/(mol²·s) for (−)‐ketoconazole and 2.067 × 10⁻³ m⁶/(mol²·s) for (+)‐ketoconazole.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Chain‐Growth Polycondensation of AB‐type Monomers: High Catalyst Turnover and Polymerization Rates

Chain‐growth catalyst‐transfer polycondensations of AB‐type monomers is a new and rapidly developing tool for the preparation of well‐defined π‐conjugated (semiconducting) polymers for various optoelectronic applications. Herein, we report the Pd/PtBu₃‐catalyzed Negishi chain‐growth polycondensation of AB‐type monomers, which proceeds with unprecedented TONs of above 100 000 and TOFs of up to 280 s^?1. In contrast, related AA/BB‐type step‐growth polycondensation proceeds with two orders of magnitude lower TONs and TOFs. A similar trend was observed in Suzuki‐type polycondensation. The key impact of the intramolecular (vs. intermolecular) catalyst‐transfer process on both polymerization kinetics and catalyst lifetime has been revealed.     

New Falling Film Reactor for Melt Polycondensation Process

Summary: A grid falling film tower (GFFT) has been invented as an ideal polycondensation reactor. In this reactor, polymer melt flows through multi-layers grids from top to bottom to form falling film owing to gravity without agitation and shear; large gas-liquid interfacial area is generated; the grids are perpendicular between adjacent layers to ensure film renewal and to achieve uniformly flowing. The fluid flow in this reactor has little back-mixing and dead zone, which is near to plug flow. All melts are under the state of thin film which avoids the negative effect of hydrostatic head on the mass transfer impetus. Furthermore, the GFFT has wide operation flexibility as well as adjustable configuration parameters to meet different demands. A pilot scale GFFT with the height of 4.0 meters has been applied to polyester polycondensation process. The intrinsic viscosity of polyethylene terephthalate increased from 0.45 dl/g to 0.8–0.9 dl/g successfully. GFFT is supposed to be an universal apparatus for many devolatilization processes.     

Study of Sorption of 2,4‐D on Outer Peristaltic Part of Waste Tire Rubber Granules

From this study it was evident that outer peristaltic parts of waste tire granules gave the highest removal. Film and pore diffusions are the major factors controlling rates of sorption from solution by porous adsorbents. For sorption of 2,4‐D on waste tire rubber granules, the sorption rate coefficient of second‐order kinetic equation was utilized indirectly to determine the rate‐limiting step. The diffusion coefficient lies in the scale of 10^?8 cm²/s, and the pore diffusion coefficient is in the range of 10^?9–10^?10 cm²/s. So both film and pore diffusion are rate limiting. Considering external mass transfer from fluid to particle, using the effect of initial concentration, and using the effect of adsorbent size, no conclusion was reached regarding rate‐controlling steps. It is apparent from the study that external mass transfer (film diffusion) as well as intra‐particle diffusion (pore diffusion) play significant roles in the sorption process for 2,4‐D removal from water onto rubber granules.     

Synthesis and characterization of polycarbonates based on bisphenol S by melt transesterification

Several sulfone-containing polycarbonates, having inherent viscosity 0.25–0.30 dL g⁻¹ in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), were prepared by melt polycondensation of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) with various aromatic and aliphatic diols, in the presence of zinc acetate as transesterification catalyst. The polycarbonates were examined with IR spectra, inherent viscosity, solubility, tensile strength, contact angle, DSC and TGA. Almost all polymers were soluble in DMF, pyridine, N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP), THF, phenol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), partially soluble in nitrobenzene, but insoluble in acetone. Polycarbonate with introduced ether linkages leads to enhanced flexibility and elongation strength. The contact angle of the polycarbonate based on bisphenol S was found in the range 42–80°, smaller than that of polycarbonates based on bisphenol AF and bisphenol A. The wettability of polycarbonate films based on bisphenol S remarkably increased with increasing oxyethylene unit in polymer chain. The smaller values of T_d of PC-3-PC-7 than of PC-1 is attributed to the flexible ether linkage. The thermal stability of a brominated aromatic polycarbonate (PC-2) is less than that of the unbrominated one (PC-1). The brominated aromatic polycarbonate (PC-2) has good flame retardency, as indicated by the large limiting oxygen index 56. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2453–2460, 1997     

Kinetics Study on Oxidation of β‐Isophorone Using Molecular Oxygen

The oxidation kinetics of β‐isophorone (β‐IP) using molecular oxygen catalyzed by iron(III) acetylacetonate was investigated in a lab‐scale agitator bubbling reactor. β‐IP was found to give keto‐isophorone (KIP) and 4‐hydroxy‐3,5,5‐trimethyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one (HIP) along with little isomerization product α‐isophorone (α‐IP). The results show that the oxidation reaction took place in the pseudo–first‐order fast reaction regime. The experiment was conducted under the mass transfer reaction regime as the mass transfer resistances could not be easily eliminated. The intrinsic kinetics was obtained through apparent kinetics. The activation energy of oxidation of β‐IP to KIP is 70.5 ± 4.1 kJ mol^–1, and the value of ln A_KIP is 33.53 ± 1.22. Meanwhile, the activation energy of oxidation of β‐IP to HIP is 86.4 ± 5.4 kJ mol^–1 and the value of ln A_HIP is 36.23 ± 1.52, which could provide theoretical basis for industrial design, amplification of reactor, and the optimization of reaction.     

Polycondensation rate of poly(ethylene terephthalate). II. Antimony trioxide–catalyzed polycondensation in static thin films on metal surfaces

In the catalyzed polycondensation reaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate), defined by rates of polymerization in thin films under vacuum are orders of magnitude greater than those observed in an equilibrating system. Such behavior is consistent with a mechanism in which a volatile component of the reaction mixture reacts reversibly with the catalyst to render it unreactive in polycondensation; removal of this component is facilitated as polymerizing melt thickness is decreased. In accord with such a mechanism polycondensation rates for polymerizations carried out on metal surfaces at thicknesses of 1 to 5 mils of polymerizing melt are observed to increase with decreasing thickness, provided a catalyst is present. In the absence of a catalyst there is no tendency of rate to increase with decreasing thickness. A number of metal surfaces were found to dissolve in the polymerizing melt. On rhodium and silver, which were found to be inert to such dissolution, uncatalyzed polycondensation rate constants k_p of 0.03 and 0.04 liter mol^?1 min^?1 were found. These values of k_p are low and identical within experimental error. This behavior is in accord with the assumption that no catalysis occurs at the interface of the polymerizing melt and the metal surface. A typical value for the catalyzed rate constant k_p (uncorrected for catalyst concentration) was 0.6 liter mol^?1 min^?1 in a 1-mil thickness of polymerizing melt at 275°C and in the presence of 0.025 wt-% antimony trioxide. The activation energy for the antimony trioxide–catalyzed polycondensation was found to be 14 kcal; for the uncatalyzed polycondensation it was 45 kcal.     

Electrode kinetics of electroactive electropolymerized polymers deposited on graphite electrode surfaces

A kinetic examination of the charge-transport processes (i.e. (i) heterogeneous electron-transfer process of electrode/film interfaces and (ii) homogeneous charge-transport process within films) at electroactive electropolymerized film-coated electrodes was conducted by normal pulse voltammetry. The films employed were of poly(o-phenylenediamine), Poly(N-methylaniline) and poly(N-ethylaniline), which were prepared on electrodes as coating films by electrooxidative polymerization of the corresponding monomers in an acidic solution. It was found that process (i) obeys the conventional Butler-Volmer equation and that process (ii) can be treated as a Fickian diffusion process. In addition, the kinetic parameters characterizing processes (i) and (ii) (i.e. the standard rate constant (k°) and transfer coefficient (α) for process (i), and the apparent diffusion coefficient (D_app for process (ii)) were estimated: D_app = ca (1–4)×10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ s⁻¹, k° = ca. (4–6)×10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹, α_a (for anodic process) = 0.83–0.86 and α_c (for cathodic process)=0.13–0.23. The are compared with the data reported previously for other electroactive polymer films.     

Condensation and Polycondensation of Terephthaldehyde with Methyl D‐Hexopyranosides

The condensation and polycondensations of terephthaldehyde ( 1 ) and methyl D ‐hexopyranosides (gluco‐, galacto‐ and mannopyranoside) are described. Methyl α‐D ‐glucopyranoside and methyl α‐D ‐galactopyranoside react with 1 to give mono‐ 5 a and 6 a and diacetals 5 b and 6 b . Their structures were confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The polycondensation of methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside ( 4 ) with 1 was studied in various solvents within the temperature range of 80–140°C. Regardless of the conversion or the initial comonomer feed ratios the composition of polycondensates depended on the reaction conditions leading to the formation of materials with diverse solubilities, molecular weights and optical properties. The regioselective polycondensation of 1 and 4 was examined by the ¹H NMR spectroscopy of polymer 7 . In the case of five‐membered cyclic acetal units, mixtures of the endo‐H and exo‐H dioxolan‐2‐yl system diastereomers are formed. Experimental examples of functionalization via ester units in polymer molecules 8 are described and the efficiency of the reaction routes and procedures are evaluated. The molecular weight was estimated by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements before and after the functionalization.     

Covalent Triazine Frameworks via a Low‐Temperature Polycondensation Approach

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are normally synthesized by ionothermal methods. The harsh synthetic conditions and associated limited structural diversity do not benefit for further development and practical large‐scale synthesis of CTFs. Herein we report a new strategy to construct CTFs (CTF‐HUSTs) via a polycondensation approach, which allows the synthesis of CTFs under mild conditions from a wide array of building blocks. Interestingly, these CTFs display a layered structure. The CTFs synthesized were also readily scaled up to gram quantities. The CTFs are potential candidates for separations, photocatalysis and for energy storage applications. In particular, CTF‐HUSTs are found to be promising photocatalysts for sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with a maximum rate of 2647 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ under visible light. We also applied a pyrolyzed form of CTF‐HUST‐4 as an anode material in a sodium‐ion battery achieving an excellent discharge capacity of 467 mAh g⁻¹.     

Kinetics and mechanism of formation of gehlenite,Al–Si spinel and anorthite from the mixture of kaolinite and calcite

The kinetics and mechanism of formation of gehlenite, Al–Si spinel phase, wollastonite and anorthite from the mixture of kaolinite and calcite was investigated by differential thermal analysis under the heating rate from 283 to 293 K min⁻¹ using Kissinger equation. The changes in the phase composition of the sample during the thermal treatment were investigated via simultaneous TG-DTA, in situ high-temperature x-ray diffraction analysis and high-temperature heating-microscopy. The crystallizations of gehlenite and Al–Si spinel phase show apparent activation energy of (411 ± 5) kJ mol⁻¹ and (550 ± 9) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The value of kinetic exponent corresponds to the process limited by the decreasing nucleation rate for gehlenite while constant nucleation rate is determined for Al–Si spinel phase. Anorthite crystallizes from the eutectic melt and the process shows the apparent activation energy of (1140 ± 25) kJ mol⁻¹. The process is limited by the constant nucleation rate of a new phase.     

Over‐Oxidized Poly (Phenol Red) Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Ultra‐Trace Antimony (III)

In this study, we introduce a very sensitive and selective method for the differential pulse anodic stripping determination of Sb(III) ion on the over‐oxidized poly(phenol red) modified glassy carbon electrode (PPhRed_ox/GCE) in 0.1 mol L^‐1 HCl medium. The formation of both poly(phenol red) and over‐oxidized poly(phenol red) film on the electrode surfaces were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. An anodic stripping peak of Sb(III) was observed at 0.015 V on the PPhRed_ox/GCE. Higher anodic stripping peak current of Sb(III) was obtained at PPhRed_ox/GCE compared with both bare GCE and poly(phenol red) film modified GCE (PPhRed/GCE). The calibration graph consisted of two linear segments of 0.044 ‐ 1.218 μg L⁻¹ and 3.40 – 18.26 μg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.0075 μg L⁻¹. The proposed over‐oxidized polymer film modified electrode was applied successfully for the analysis of antimony in different spiked water samples. Spiked recoveries for water samples were obtained in the range of 93.0–103.0%. The accuracy of the method was also verified through the analysis of standard reference materials (SCP SCIENCE‐EnviroMAT™ EP−L‐2).     

Solvent‐free and nonisocyanate melt transurethane reaction for aliphatic polyurethanes and mechanistic aspects

A novel melt transurethane polycondensation route for polyurethanes under solvent‐free and nonisocyanate condition was developed for soluble and thermally stable aliphatic or aromatic polyurethanes. The new transurethane process was investigated for A + B, A‐A + B, and A‐A + B‐B (A‐urethane and B‐hydroxyl) ‐type condensation reactions, and also monomers bearing primary and secondary urethane or hydroxyl functionalities. The transurethane process was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and molecular weight of the polymers were obtained as M_n = 10–15 × 10³ and M_w = 15–45 × 10³ g/mol. The mechanistic aspects of the melt transurethane process and role of the catalyst were investigated using model reactions, ¹H NMR, and MALDI‐TOF‐MS. The model reactions indicated the occurrence of 97% reaction in the presence of catalyst, whereas its absence gave only less than 2% of the product. The polymer samples were subjected for end‐group analysis using MALDI‐TOF‐MS, which confirms the Ti‐catalyst mediated nonisocyanate pathway in the melt transurethane process. Almost all the polyurethanes were stable up to 280 °C, and the T_g of the polyurethanes can be easily fine‐tuned from ?30 to 120 °C by using appropriate diols in the melt transurethane process. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2445–2458, 2008     

Synthesis of novel phospholipid polymers by polycondensation

To synthesize novel phospholipid polymers by polycondensation, 1,3‐dichloroisopropyl phosphorylcholine (DCPC) was synthesized as a new monomer. The DCPC was reacted with 1,4‐dibromobutane in the presence of potassium carbonate, and polycarbonates having phosphorylcholine group were obtained with changing in the mole fraction of DCPC unit. The number averaged molecular weight (Mn) of the polycarbonate determined by gel‐permeation chromatography was in the range between 4×10³–1×10⁴ g·mol^–1. The polycarbonate containing 30 mol‐% of DCPC units was dissolved in water. The surface tension measurement of an aqueous solution containing the polycarbonate indicated the formation of a polymer associate when the concentration of the polycarbonate was higher than 5.0×10^–3 g/dL.     

Electrochemical behavior of high-molecular-weight poly(ferrocenylsilane) films in aqueous electrolyte solutions

The electrochemical behavior of high-molecular-weight poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) films and poly(ferrocenylmethylphenylsilane) films, which contained about 2.8 × 10⁻⁶ mol cm⁻² ferrocene sites in eight kinds of aqueous electrolyte solutions, was investigated with cyclic voltammetry (CV). In some aqueous electrolyte solutions, the CV peak currents diminished gradually with an increase in the scanning times, whereas in other aqueous electrolyte solutions, stable and repeated cyclic voltammograms were obtained. The polymer films were poor-solvent-swollen in aqueous electrolyte solutions, and this resulted in a high resistivity of mass transfer and a slow rate of electrode reaction; therefore; quasireversible or irreversible CV processes were obtained. The kinetic parameters of the film-electrode processes, such as the surface transfer coefficient, the apparent diffusion coefficient, and the standard rate constant for electron transfer, for the two films in aqueous LiClO₄ solutions were measured, and the electrode process mechanism of the films was examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2245–2253, 2004     

Water sorption by poly(tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate). I. A mass‐uptake study

Cylindrical samples (≈5 mm × 20 mm) of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and copolymers of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and furfuryl methacrylate were prepared, and the sorption of water into these cylinders was studied by the mass‐uptake method and by the measurement of the volume change at equilibrium. The equilibrium water content and volume change for the cylinders both varied systematically with the copolymer composition. The diffusion of water into the cylinders followed Fickian behavior, with the diffusion coefficients, dependent on the copolymer composition, varying from 2.00 × 10⁻¹¹ m²s⁻¹ for poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) to 5.00 × 10⁻¹² m²s⁻¹ for poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate) with a 1 : 4 composition. The polymers that were rich in 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate were characterized by a water‐sorption overshoot, which was attributed to a slow reorientation of the polymer chains in the swollen rubbery regions formed after water sorption. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1939–1946, 2000     

Kinetics and mechanism of autocatalyzed reaction between Phenyl Hydrazine and Toluidine blue in aqueous solution

The kinetics and mechanism of reduction of aqueous toluidine blue (TB⁺) by phenyl hydrazine (Pz), which exhibits nonlinear behavior, is studied spectrophotometrically at 630 nm. Typical kinetic curves exhibited autocatalytic characteristics. The role of H⁺ as an autocatalyst is established. Rate constants for the uncatalyzed and acid catalyzed reactions are determined. The forward rate constants for the uncatalyzed and acid catalyzed reactions were 1.4 × 10⁻² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 60 M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Reaction products are toluidine white, phenol, and an azo dye. From the stoichiometric ratios, the major reaction is Pz + 2 TB⁺ + H₂O = PhOH + 2 TBH + 2 H⁺ + N₂. The rate expression and a detailed 12‐step reaction mechanism supported by simulations are proposed. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 31: 83–88, 1999