Target‐Specific Capture of Environmentally Relevant Gaseous Aldehydes and Carboxylic Acids with Functional Nanoparticles |
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| Authors: | McKenzie L Campbell Fernanda D Guerra Jhilmil Dhulekar Prof Dr Frank Alexis Prof Dr Daniel C Whitehead |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, 467 Hunter Laboratories, Clemson, SC 29634 (USA);2. Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 203 Rhodes Annex, Clemson, SC 29634 (USA), Fax: (+1)?864‐656‐4466;3. CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília ‐ DF 70040‐020 (Brazil);4. Institute of Biological Interfaces of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 401‐2 Rhodes Engineering Research Center, Clemson, SC 29634 (USA) |
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| Abstract: | Aldehyde and carboxylic acid volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present significant environmental concern due to their prevalence in the atmosphere. We developed biodegradable functional nanoparticles comprised of poly(d,l ‐lactic acid)‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(ethyleneimine) (PDLLA‐PEG‐PEI) block co‐polymers that capture these VOCs by chemical reaction. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) preparation involved nanoprecipitation and surface functionalization with branched PEI. The PDLLA‐PEG‐PEI NPs were characterized by using TGA, IR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis, and TEM. The materials feature 1°, 2°, and 3° amines on their surface, capable of capturing aldehydes and carboxylic acids from gaseous mixtures. Aldehydes were captured by a condensation reaction forming imines, whereas carboxylic acids were captured by acid/base reaction. These materials reacted selectively with target contaminants obviating off‐target binding when challenged by other VOCs with orthogonal reactivity. The NPs outperformed conventional activated carbon sorbents. |
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| Keywords: | gaseous pollutants nanoparticles poly(ethyleneimine) poly(lactic acid) polymers |
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