Issue 9, 2023

Process intensification of continuous-flow seATRP by a sonicated multi-reactor setup

Abstract

Simplified electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (seATRP) is a versatile technique for synthesizing polymers with precise control and complex architecture. Continuous-flow seATRP has recently been realized by using a sonicated microreactor but still faces limitations such as relatively low conversion and difficulties in synthesizing polymers with high molecular weight. Herein, a novel multi-reactor setup is demonstrated. By tuning the currents applied to different reaction stages in the setup, 90% conversion can be achieved while maintaining relatively low dispersity (<1.35). Meanwhile, the unique design enables a wider processing window for sonication due to greater viscous attenuation in the second reactor, thus largely addressing the problem associated with high viscosity during the synthesis of high molecular weight polymers. The developed setup also offers an alternative strategy for future scale-up of continuous-flow seATRP.

Graphical abstract: Process intensification of continuous-flow seATRP by a sonicated multi-reactor setup

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 4 2023
Accepted
31 5 2023
First published
01 6 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

React. Chem. Eng., 2023,8, 2170-2176

Process intensification of continuous-flow seATRP by a sonicated multi-reactor setup

S. Zhang, T. Junkers and S. Kuhn, React. Chem. Eng., 2023, 8, 2170 DOI: 10.1039/D3RE00235G

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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