Polymer Separation and Purification

Generally after completion of the solution polymerization, tetrahydrofuran (THF) or chloroform was added to the reaction mixture to dilute the rather viscous solution. Some researchers believe that this step denatures the enzyme and terminate the polymerization reaction, however it has been shown in earlier literature that polymerization can occur in a solvent such as THF. Our work also confirms that this does not lead to inactivation of the enzyme. The immobilized enzyme was then removed from the solution by vacuum filtering the sample through a coarse-filter fritted funnel. Tetrahydrofuran was removed by rotary evaporation at 40 °C. 

Polymer was precipitated out of the viscous remainder solution by adding a cold polar solvent such as methanol while stirring vigorously. The precipitated polymer was separated from the solution by vacuum filtration and was dried in a vacuum oven. 

---