Oxygenated polymers as sustainable materials for consumer products and liquid formulations

含氧聚合物作为消费品和液体配方的可持续材料

• 批准号: 2889890
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2889890
• 关键词: Oxygenated; polymers; sustainable; materials; consumer

Hydrophilic polymers are an important area of polymer science with applications including; drug delivery, self-assembly, surface modification, catalysis and liquid formulations. Unfortunately, however, the majority of these macromolecules are petrochemical derived and based on non-degradable synthetic methodologies. Due to a push for a more sustainable and circular economy, there has been increased demand on re-designing these materials with a focus on renewable feedstocks and end-of-life disposal. Fundamental investigation of polymer synthesis and understanding of structure property degradability relationships is necessary, for the design of novel renewable polymers for sustainable applications. This research will address this challenge through synthesis and investigation of novel polymer structures for use in liquid formulations. Polyester and polycarbonates, have been selected as these chemistries are typically degradable by hydrolysis, many are biodegradable, and they can often be synthesised from bio-based resources. This approach will utilise highly active, selective and controllable catalysts and processes for epoxide/anhydride ring-opening polymerisation, with the potential for later expansion to epoxide/carbon dioxide copolymerisation. The focus of the thesis can be divided into a number of sub-aims including: i) Synthesise novel hydrophilic polyesters and polycarbonates; ii) Characterise the stability, solubility and biodegradability of the novel polymers; iii) Develop the understanding of structure-performance-degradation relationships for hydrophilic polymers; iv) Investigate post-functionalisation for tuning properties; v) Optimise reaction conditions for improved polymerisation control. The project will be a collaboration with Unilever and falls within the EPSRC polymer materials, net zero, circular economy, and physical sciences research areas.

亲水聚合物是聚合物科学的一个重要领域，其应用包括：药物输送、自组装、表面改性、催化和液体制剂。然而不幸的是，这些大分子中的大多数是石化衍生的并且基于不可降解的合成方法。由于推动更加可持续和循环经济，重新设计这些材料的需求不断增加，重点关注可再生原料和报废处理。对于设计用于可持续应用的新型可再生聚合物，有必要对聚合物合成进行基础研究并了解结构性能可降解性关系。这项研究将通过合成和研究用于液体配方的新型聚合物结构来应对这一挑战。选择聚酯和聚碳酸酯是因为这些化学品通常可通过水解降解，许多是可生物降解的，并且它们通常可以由生物基资源合成。该方法将利用高活性、选择性和可控的催化剂和环氧化物/酸酐开环聚合工艺，并有可能随后扩展到环氧化物/二氧化碳共聚合。论文的重点可以分为多个子目标，包括：i）合成新型亲水性聚酯和聚碳酸酯； ii) 表征新型聚合物的稳定性、溶解度和生物降解性； iii) 加深对亲水聚合物结构-性能-降解关系的理解； iv) 研究后功能化以调整性能； v) 优化反应条件以改善聚合控制。该项目将与联合利华合作，属于 EPSRC 聚合物材料、净零排放、循环经济和物理科学研究领域。