Adsorption–Absorption Polymer Purification (AAPP): A Mass Transfer Strategy for Removing Residual Monomer from Synthetic Polymers
8 affiliations
- 1Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, Jena, Germany, 07743
- 2Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Química
- 3Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- 4Centro de Graduados e Investigacion en Quimica
- 5Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico
- 6Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, Jena, Germany, 07743
- 7Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications Jena (HIPOLE Jena, Lessingstraße 12-14, Jena, Germany, 07743
- 8Helmholtz Zentrum für Materialien und Energie (HZB, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, Berlin, Germany, 14109
Abstract
After polymerization, synthetic polymers frequently contain residual monomers, solvents, and other low molar mass compounds that can adversely affect material properties and subsequent applications. Their removal remains challenging, as conventional purification methods such as precipitation and dialysis are often time-consuming, difficult to standardize, and generate substantial amounts of solvent waste. Herein, an Adsorption–Absorption Polymer Purification (AAPP) method that combines a polymer immobilization through physisorption with a selective extraction of the corresponding residual monomer (or compounds) into a nonsolvent phase is introduced. Model polymers were employed to evaluate the performance of AAPP and to identify suitable operating conditions. Quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) demonstrated near-complete removal of residual monomers within comparatively short purification times while preserving the molecular characteristics of the polymers. Furthermore, the purified polymers were recovered in high yields and successfully employed as precursors for subsequent block copolymer syntheses, confirming the retention of their functionality. It is also demonstrated that AAPP can be efficiently utilized for, at least, the multigram scale production of specialty polymers. These results demonstrate that AAPP provides an effective and versatile strategy for polymer purification and highlight the potential of coupling absorption and adsorption to mitigate transport limitations in purification processes.
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BibTeX
@misc{tasmeen2026adsorptionabsorption,
title = {{Adsorption–Absorption Polymer Purification (AAPP): A Mass Transfer Strategy for Removing Residual Monomer from Synthetic Polymers}},
author = {Fairuz Z. Tasmeen and Edith Mendoza Rodriguez and Jens Ulbrich and Juan Carlos Jimenez Vazquez and Paulina Coria Estrada and Ulrich S. Schubert and Carlos Guerrero Sanchez},
howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15010859/v1},
url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010859/v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Adsorption–Absorption Polymer Purification (AAPP): A Mass Transfer Strategy for Removing Residual Monomer from Synthetic Polymers
AU - Fairuz Z. Tasmeen
AU - Edith Mendoza Rodriguez
AU - Jens Ulbrich
AU - Juan Carlos Jimenez Vazquez
AU - Paulina Coria Estrada
AU - Ulrich S. Schubert
AU - Carlos Guerrero Sanchez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
PB - ChemRxiv
DO - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15010859/v1
UR - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010859/v1
AB - After polymerization, synthetic polymers frequently contain residual monomers, solvents, and other low molar mass compounds that can adversely affect material properties and subsequent applications. Their removal remains challenging, as conventional purification methods such as precipitation and dialysis are often time-consuming, difficult to standardize, and generate substantial amounts of solvent waste. Herein, an Adsorption–Absorption Polymer Purification (AAPP) method that combines a polymer immobilization through physisorption with a selective extraction of the corresponding residual monomer (or compounds) into a nonsolvent phase is introduced. Model polymers were employed to evaluate the performance of AAPP and to identify suitable operating conditions. Quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) demonstrated near-complete removal of residual monomers within comparatively short purification times while preserving the molecular characteristics of the polymers. Furthermore, the purified polymers were recovered in high yields and successfully employed as precursors for subsequent block copolymer syntheses, confirming the retention of their functionality. It is also demonstrated that AAPP can be efficiently utilized for, at least, the multigram scale production of specialty polymers. These results demonstrate that AAPP provides an effective and versatile strategy for polymer purification and highlight the potential of coupling absorption and adsorption to mitigate transport limitations in purification processes.
ER -