Polymerization, grafting synthetic biopolymers

Surfactants have also been used to overcome the solubility limitation of synthetic polymers in CO2 (most common synthetic polymers would be considered to be C02-phobic). For example, surfactants have been used to aid in the dispersion polymerization of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) in CO2 (58-60). The surfactants used in the polymerizations of PMMA are more accurately referred to as stabilizers. The C02-phobic region acts as anchor to the growing polymer, either by physical adsorption or by chemical grafting. The C02-philic region sterically stabilizes the growing polymer particles, preventing flocculation and precipitation. When a biopolymer is not soluble in CO2, specific surfactants may be designed to aid in the solubilization of the polymer into CO2. 

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