Exemplification of catalyst design for microwave selective heating and its application to efficient in situ catalyst synthesis

Wang, Kaiyang; Dimitrakis, Georgios; Irvine, Derek J.

Abstract

The use of dielectric spectroscopy to develop an underpinning understanding of the molecular transformations involved in achieving the successful, rapid in situ synthesis of a catalytic chain transfer polymerisation (CCTP) catalyst using microwave heating is reported. The hypothesis behind the molecular design of this catalyst, such that it was tailored towards the application of microwave heating (MWH), is discussed, reviewed relative to the empirically results and compared to the performance of a benchmark preformed catalyst. The overall number/type of function group present in the catalyst, the degree of flexibility exhibited by its organic ligand system and level of solvation achieved are shown to be key factors affecting the interaction between the catalyst and the applied microwave energy. Use of microwave heating leads to fast, in situ formation of the catalyst (less than 30 second) within the polymerisation mixture, rendering prepreparation steps unnecessary and ensuring it is generated prior to the polymerisation reaction commencing. The data also suggests catalysts’ synthesis is achieved at levels of microwave power as low as 5 Watts, further adding to the efficiency and sustainability of the method and presents a potentially enormous opportunity to intensify current industrial processes.

Citation

Wang, K., Dimitrakis, G., & Irvine, D. J. (2017). Exemplification of catalyst design for microwave selective heating and its application to efficient in situ catalyst synthesis. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, 122, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2017.01.012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 17, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 30, 2017
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 10, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 30, 2017
• Journal: Chemical Engineering & Processing: Process Intensification
• Electronic ISSN: 0255-2701
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 122
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2017.01.012
• Keywords: Microwave, Selective heating, Organometallic catalysts
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/898487
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0255270116302409