Reverse Micro-Emulsion Polymerization

Reverse microemulsion polymerization method is used in a variety of applications such as to produce the nanotubes (Jang and Yoon, 2013) and quantum dots [Zhang and Fan, 2012). However, it is an emerging method of MIP synthesis. 

This technique consists of an aqueous solution of monomer which is emulsified in organic solvent and the polymerization is initiated with initiator which is soluble in organic solvent [Thomas and Zaikov, 2008). A water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion is formed by adding oil soluble surfactants to the discrete 

The use of water in polymerization is environmentally friendly and also allows excellent heat dissipation during the course of the polymerization. 

The reverse microemulsion polymerization for MIP preparation has two main advantages. 

This can overcome the challenge of MIP to reveal recognition properties in aqueous environment and enable imprinting of the pharmaceutical compounds that are present in aqueous matrices or biological fluids. 

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A modification of the micro-emulsion polymerization is pol5meriza-tion in reverse micelles, called inversed or micellar polymerization. This issue concerns the polymerization of hydrophilic monomers, from which one obtains the water-soluble pol miers. Therefore, as the phase diffuser mostly hydrocarbons such as isooctane, heptane, benzene or toluene are used. 

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