A novel route for the synthesis of pseudopolyrotaxane containing γ-Cyclodextrin based on environmental waste recycling

Abstract

The disposal of environmentally harmful waste is one of the most important challenges nowadays, especially when it is turned into important products for the industry. In this perspective, pseudopolyrotaxane containing gamma-cyclodextrin was synthesized for the first time from polystyrene waste recycling. Initially, polystyrene sulfonic acid (1) was facilely obtained in good yield by sulphonation of styrofoam (expanded polystyrene, EPS). Thereafter, it was used to synthesis of pseudopolyrotaxane (2). The chemical structure of the newly synthesized polymers (1) and (2) was established by their spectral analysis such as FT-IR, 1H-, 13C-, and cosy-NMR spectroscopy. The surface morphology and the thermal stability of these two polymers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The optical properties of compounds (1) and (2) were also explored. The results confirmed that the promising new strategy of the synthesis process based on modifying polystyrene sulfonic acid by encapsulation of γ –cyclodextrin significantly enhanced the thermal stability and the optical properties of the final product making it suitable for a wide range of industrial uses.