Catalytic Activity of Hybrid Iron Oxide Silver Nanoparticles in Methyl Methacrylate Polymerization

Mohamed S.A. Darwish,Jungwon Yoon,Sanaa M. Solyman

doi:10.3390/catal10040422

Abstract

One of the challenges in the preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is to develop new catalytic systems with improved efficiency. A hybrid iron oxide silver catalyst holds promise in solving this issue. Catalysts were prepared at room temperature by a two-step technique. First, iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by the reduction of FeCl3 using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) at room temperature. Second, magnetic nanoparticles doped with a series of Ag nanoparticles (Ag, Ag/3 –amino propyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and Ag/poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI)). The prepared catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The catalytic activity of Fe, Ag/Fe, PEI–Ag/Fe, and APTES–Ag/Fe in methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization was investigated in the presence of O2, N2, NaHSO3, and benzoyl peroxide in bulk or solution conditions. The produced polymer was characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HNMR). The structures of PEI–Ag/Fe and APTES–Ag/Fe are assumed. The conversion efficiency was 100%, 100%, 97.6%, and 99.1% using Fe, Ag/Fe, PEI–Ag/Fe, and APTES–Ag/Fe catalysts at the optimum conditions, respectively. Hybrid iron oxide silver nanoparticles are promising catalysts for PMMA preparation.

Highlights

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a thermoplastic that is transparent with resistance to UV and has been used in a wide range of fields and applications
Magnetic nanoparticles doped by silver catalyst based on Ag/Fe, APTES–Ag/Fe, In this work, magnetic nanoparticles doped at byroom silvertemperature catalyst based on the
Ag/Fe, and PEI–Ag/Fe were prepared in an open system using twoAPTES–Ag/Fe step reduction, and PEI–Ag/Fe werein prepared an open at room temperature using the two reduction technique, as shown

Summary

Introduction

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a thermoplastic that is transparent with resistance to UV and has been used in a wide range of fields and applications. The kinetics of the free radical bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was studied using the benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/amine initiation system. In the MMA polymerization reaction, naked magnetic silver nanoparticles and those coated with APTES and PEI were investigated to measure their efficiency in generating the polymerization initiating radicals. To the best of our knowledge, catalyst based on magnetic nanoparticles doped by silver has not yet been prepared at room temperature for bulk and solution polymerization of MMA. The prepared samples of synthesized Fe, Ag/Fe, APTES–Ag/Fe, and PEI–Ag/Fe nanoparticles were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) Their catalytic efficiency was investigated as a new family of nanocomposites that may be appropriate for MMA polymerization

Catalyst Preparation

Catalyst Characterization

Scanning Electron Microscope and EDX

The Hydrodynamic Size of Catalyst Samples

The Catalytic Activity of Different Catalyst Samples in MMA Polymerization

Materials

Preparation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Preparation of Catalysts Based on Magnetic Nanoparticle Doped by Silver

Methyl Methacrylate Polymerization Reaction

Characterization of Polymethyl Methacrylate

Conclusions