Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith
Monolith is an emerging technology applicable for separation, filtration, and chromatography due to its interconnected pore structure. However, the current templates used to form monolith pores are associated with poor heat dissipation, uneven pore size distribution, and relatively low mechanical st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/21/3639 |
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| author | Nur Faezah Ibadat Clarence M. Ongkudon Suryani Saallah Mailin Misson |
| author_facet | Nur Faezah Ibadat Clarence M. Ongkudon Suryani Saallah Mailin Misson |
| author_sort | Nur Faezah Ibadat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Monolith is an emerging technology applicable for separation, filtration, and chromatography due to its interconnected pore structure. However, the current templates used to form monolith pores are associated with poor heat dissipation, uneven pore size distribution, and relatively low mechanical strength during monolith scale-up. Templates made from polymeric microsphere particles were synthesized via a solvent evaporation technique using different types of polymer (polystyrene, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, polyethylene, and poly (vinyl-alcohol) at varied polymer (10–40 wt%) and surfactant (5–10%) concentrations. The resulting microsphere particles were tested as a monolith template for the formation of homogenous pores. Among the tested polymers, polystyrene at 10 wt% concentration demonstrated good particle morphology determined to around 1.94–3.45 µm. The addition of surfactant at a concentration of 7–10 wt% during microsphere synthesis resulted in the formation of well-shaped and non-aggregating microsphere particles. In addition, the template has contributed to the production of porous monoliths with enhanced thermal stability. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated monolith degradation between 230 °C and 450 °C, implying the material excellent mechanical strength. The findings of the study provide insightful knowledge on the feasibility of polymeric microsphere particles as a pore-directing template to fabricate monoliths with desired pore structures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:55:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fef0e3a03d7d4fdd9f8f45c07fb52bec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:55:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-fef0e3a03d7d4fdd9f8f45c07fb52bec2023-11-22T21:26:34ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-10-011321363910.3390/polym13213639Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous MonolithNur Faezah Ibadat0Clarence M. Ongkudon1Suryani Saallah2Mailin Misson3Bioprocess Engineering Research Groups, Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, MalaysiaBioprocess Engineering Research Groups, Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, MalaysiaBioprocess Engineering Research Groups, Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, MalaysiaBioprocess Engineering Research Groups, Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, MalaysiaMonolith is an emerging technology applicable for separation, filtration, and chromatography due to its interconnected pore structure. However, the current templates used to form monolith pores are associated with poor heat dissipation, uneven pore size distribution, and relatively low mechanical strength during monolith scale-up. Templates made from polymeric microsphere particles were synthesized via a solvent evaporation technique using different types of polymer (polystyrene, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, polyethylene, and poly (vinyl-alcohol) at varied polymer (10–40 wt%) and surfactant (5–10%) concentrations. The resulting microsphere particles were tested as a monolith template for the formation of homogenous pores. Among the tested polymers, polystyrene at 10 wt% concentration demonstrated good particle morphology determined to around 1.94–3.45 µm. The addition of surfactant at a concentration of 7–10 wt% during microsphere synthesis resulted in the formation of well-shaped and non-aggregating microsphere particles. In addition, the template has contributed to the production of porous monoliths with enhanced thermal stability. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated monolith degradation between 230 °C and 450 °C, implying the material excellent mechanical strength. The findings of the study provide insightful knowledge on the feasibility of polymeric microsphere particles as a pore-directing template to fabricate monoliths with desired pore structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/21/3639monolithtemplatesmicrospherepolymerhomogeneous poresurfactant |
| spellingShingle | Nur Faezah Ibadat Clarence M. Ongkudon Suryani Saallah Mailin Misson Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith Polymers monolith templates microsphere polymer homogeneous pore surfactant |
| title | Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith |
| title_full | Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith |
| title_short | Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith |
| title_sort | synthesis and characterization of polymeric microspheres template for a homogeneous and porous monolith |
| topic | monolith templates microsphere polymer homogeneous pore surfactant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/21/3639 |
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