Ozone-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate for preparation of polymer microspheres with a potential of separation and purification of polyunsaturated fatty acids

2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 13450320
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 化学工学一般
• Research Institution: OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: KITAMURA Yoshiro Okayama University, Department of Environmental Science & Technology, Professor, 環境理工学部, 教授 (90032945)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YOSHIZAWA Hidekazu Okayama University, Department of Environmental Science & Technology, Associate Professor, 環境理工学部, 教授 (20244262)
• Project Period (FY): 2001 – 2002
• Keywords: Polymer microsphere / Ozone-induced graft polymerization / Surface treatment / Polyunsaturated fatty acids / Glycidyl, methacrylate / Separation and purification / Adsorption / Dispersion polymerization

Research Abstract

From our previous research, we proposed the preparation method of polymer microspheres with an affinity for polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaacetic acid (EPA). In that study, the synthesis route to endow affinity to polymer microspheres bearing epoxy group on their surface was designed.
In this research, we planned a new design for the preparation of polymer microspheres with higher potential on adsorption of polyunsaturated fatty acids. That is to say, the experiment was conducted to prepare polymer microspheres which had more sites for Ag+ adsorption by ozone-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate on monodispersed polystyrene microspheres produced by dispersion polymerization.
At first, the equipment for ozone exposure of the prepared polymer microspheres was constructed using an advanced rotary evaporator reactor. Flask with four baffle plates was adopted in order polymer microspheres to be well-dispersed in ozone atmosphere. After the exposure of polymer microsphere in the equipment, the graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate was conducted in a sealed glass tube or a four-necked round bottom flask. As a result, the standard recipe and protocol was determined.
Secondly, we tried to clarify the effect of process parameters on formation of grafted polymer layer on polystyrene microspheres. In this study, we varied the parameter of treatment time of ozone-exposure, graft polymerization time, polymerization temperature, monomer concentration and polymerization medium as process parameters. It was found from this experiment that the treatment time of ozone-exposure and graft polymerization time enhanced the formation of grated poly(glycidyl methacrylate) layer, whereas no change was observed by change of polymerization medium. The adequate concentration of glycidyl methacrylate was found to be 5 vol% and more addition of monomer induced the formation of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres in solution simultaneously.