Inverse Miniemulsion Enables the Continuous-Flow Synthesis of Controlled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polymers.

We report the controlled synthesis of ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polymers ( ≥ 10 g/mol) via continuous flow in a tubular reactor. At high monomer conversion, UHMW polymers in homogeneous batch polymerization exhibit high viscosities that pose challenges for employing continuous flow reactors. However, under heterogeneous inverse miniemulsion (IME) conditions, UHMW polymers can be produced within the dispersed phase, while the viscosity of the heterogeneous mixture remains approximately the same as the viscosity of the continuous phase.

Photoassisted Radical Depolymerization.

Controlled radical polymerization techniques enable the synthesis of polymers with predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions, and controlled architectures. Moreover, these polymerization approaches have been routinely shown to result in retained end-group functionality that can be reactivated to continue polymerization. However, reactivation of these end groups under conditions that instead promote depropagation is a viable route to initiate depolymerization and potentially enable closed-loop recycling from polymer to monomer.

Recyclable & highly porous organo-aerogel adsorbents from biowaste for organic contaminants' removal.

Selective aerogel has become an attractive adsorbent for removing oil and organic contaminants due to its low density and excellent adsorption capacity. However, aerogels usually use non-sustainable or expensive nanomaterials and require complicated fabrication processes. Herein, using low-cost lignin reclaimed from the biorefinery waste stream as the starting material, we fabricated a highly porous, mechanically strong, and stable aerogel via a simple and one-step method under mild conditions.