The Polymerization of n-Vinylpyrrolidone In Phenylethylene Bis-Urea Macrocycles

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Chemistry

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Linda Shimizu, University of South Carolina

Abstract

New ways to polymerize the monomer n-Vinylpyrrolidone in a Phenylethylene Bis-urea macrocycle were investigated. The goal was to shine ultraviolet light on it to activate it, therefore initializing the polymerization process. The polymerization of n-Vinylpyrrolidone has been done before, but not in this macrocycle vessel, and with hydrogen peroxide as an initiator to start the polymerization process. Because the monomer in use is commonly used in food agents, I didn’t want to use hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizer, in it. They are dangerous for the human body. We decided to use ultraviolet light instead. We tried three different processes to load n-Vinylpyrrolidone in the macrocycle. For the first process, we made a solution of N-Vinylpyrrolidone and acetonitrile in a container. Then we put Phenylethylene crystals in. That soaked for 5 hours. We took a TGA and UV vis of the crystals and it loaded at 75%. Next, we used a more direct loading. n-Vinylpyrrolidone was put in the macrocycle. We shined light on it and let it soak for 6 hours. We ran a TGA of the crystals and found it loaded at 50%. It didn’t load well, because the solvent used in filtering dissolved some of the monomer out of the macrocycle. Lastly, we used direct loading. We put n-Vinylpyrrolidone in the macrocycle, and shined light on it. It sat for 8 hours, filtered, and we took a TGA and UV vis of it. The macrocycle consumed all of the monomer, and the monomer became a polymer.

Location

Wall 226

Start Date

3-25-2017 9:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 9:45 AM

The Polymerization of n-Vinylpyrrolidone In Phenylethylene Bis-Urea Macrocycles

Wall 226

New ways to polymerize the monomer n-Vinylpyrrolidone in a Phenylethylene Bis-urea macrocycle were investigated. The goal was to shine ultraviolet light on it to activate it, therefore initializing the polymerization process. The polymerization of n-Vinylpyrrolidone has been done before, but not in this macrocycle vessel, and with hydrogen peroxide as an initiator to start the polymerization process. Because the monomer in use is commonly used in food agents, I didn’t want to use hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizer, in it. They are dangerous for the human body. We decided to use ultraviolet light instead. We tried three different processes to load n-Vinylpyrrolidone in the macrocycle. For the first process, we made a solution of N-Vinylpyrrolidone and acetonitrile in a container. Then we put Phenylethylene crystals in. That soaked for 5 hours. We took a TGA and UV vis of the crystals and it loaded at 75%. Next, we used a more direct loading. n-Vinylpyrrolidone was put in the macrocycle. We shined light on it and let it soak for 6 hours. We ran a TGA of the crystals and found it loaded at 50%. It didn’t load well, because the solvent used in filtering dissolved some of the monomer out of the macrocycle. Lastly, we used direct loading. We put n-Vinylpyrrolidone in the macrocycle, and shined light on it. It sat for 8 hours, filtered, and we took a TGA and UV vis of it. The macrocycle consumed all of the monomer, and the monomer became a polymer.