Catalyst Development for CO2/Epoxide Copolymerizations: From Flask to Industrial Reactor
소속 :
연사 : 이분열 교수 (아주대학교 분자과학기술학과)
일시 : 2009-09-10 16:00 ~
장소 : 500동 목암홀
일시: 2009년 9월 10일 오후 4:00
장소: 500동 목암홀
- Abstract -
An attractive polymer from the standpoint of sustainable development is that prepared from carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 cannot be directly converted to a polymer, but can yield polymer when combined with certain epoxides such as propylene oxide, which is a bulk chemical commercially used in production of polyurethane. In order to combine CO2 and epoxide to produce a polymer, a suitable catalyst is required. The first catalyst was discovered in 1969 at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, but its efficiency was so low that it was commercially impractical. After the discovery of this catalyst, a variety of others have been developed. The most successful and promising catalyst was developed at Cornell University in the early 2000s. This catalyst exhibits a maximum turnover number of ~1,000, maximum turnover frequency of approximately ~1,500 h-1, and molecular weight up to ~50,000. Recently, my research group developed a very efficient catalyst for CO2-epoxide polymerization. The catalyst exhibits a turnover number exceeding 20,000, a turnover frequency exceeding 20,000 h-1 and molecular weight of up to 300,000. This represents an order of magnitude improvement in performance from the Cornell University catalyst. Another advantage of the most recently developed catalyst is that it can be recovered and recycled after polymerization.
The carbon dioxide/propylene oxide (CO2/PO) copolymer is attracted in many points. While most of polymers used in our daily life are derived from petroleum, the copolymer, which consists of alternating CO2 and PO subunits, is composed of 44% CO2 by weight. The copolymer burns gently in air without emitting toxic materials and without producing an ash residue. Because it contains a polar group, it adheres to a cellulosic substrate and it is easily printable. When it is process as a film, the barrier properties for O2 and water are excellent. Recently, the catalyst technology was licensed out to SK Energy and a pilot plant is being constructed with an investment of ~7 billion Won.
장소: 500동 목암홀
- Abstract -
An attractive polymer from the standpoint of sustainable development is that prepared from carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 cannot be directly converted to a polymer, but can yield polymer when combined with certain epoxides such as propylene oxide, which is a bulk chemical commercially used in production of polyurethane. In order to combine CO2 and epoxide to produce a polymer, a suitable catalyst is required. The first catalyst was discovered in 1969 at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, but its efficiency was so low that it was commercially impractical. After the discovery of this catalyst, a variety of others have been developed. The most successful and promising catalyst was developed at Cornell University in the early 2000s. This catalyst exhibits a maximum turnover number of ~1,000, maximum turnover frequency of approximately ~1,500 h-1, and molecular weight up to ~50,000. Recently, my research group developed a very efficient catalyst for CO2-epoxide polymerization. The catalyst exhibits a turnover number exceeding 20,000, a turnover frequency exceeding 20,000 h-1 and molecular weight of up to 300,000. This represents an order of magnitude improvement in performance from the Cornell University catalyst. Another advantage of the most recently developed catalyst is that it can be recovered and recycled after polymerization.
The carbon dioxide/propylene oxide (CO2/PO) copolymer is attracted in many points. While most of polymers used in our daily life are derived from petroleum, the copolymer, which consists of alternating CO2 and PO subunits, is composed of 44% CO2 by weight. The copolymer burns gently in air without emitting toxic materials and without producing an ash residue. Because it contains a polar group, it adheres to a cellulosic substrate and it is easily printable. When it is process as a film, the barrier properties for O2 and water are excellent. Recently, the catalyst technology was licensed out to SK Energy and a pilot plant is being constructed with an investment of ~7 billion Won.
