Styrene polymerization real-time monitoring

J. E. Puskas, M. G. Lanzendoerfer and W. E. Pattern, Mid-IR real-time monitoring of the carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene and styrene, Polym. Bull. 40 55 (1998). 

Pasquale AJ, Long TE. Real-time monitoring of the stable free radical polymerization of styrene via in-situ mid-infrared spectroscopy. Macromolecules 1999 32 7954-7957. 

Thus, Duewel et al. [186] have reported the real-time monitoring of styrene polymerization in miniemulsion using a continuous flow of hyperpolarized Xe through the reaction mixture. The hyperpolarization of the Xe via spin-exchange optical pumping allowed the signals to be enhanced and hence the measurements rate and resolution to be increased. 

Key words real-time fiber optic mid-IR monitoring, isobutylene, styrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, living polymerization, solution polymerization, suspension polymerization... 

Domingo et al. [193] presented an interesting smdy in which transmission and Raman-IR spectra were used to monitor the polymerization of silicon-based repellents and consolidants in stones in situ and in real time. Jiang et al. [194] used online FT Raman spectroscopy to monitor dispersion anionic polymerizations of styrene and 1,3-buta-diene. Sapk et al. [195] and Souza et al. [196] used IR-Raman spectroscopy and transmission NIRS to monitor the evolution of aniline polymerizations. Spectral data were used to detect the formation of water soluble products in the first case and for building of a kinetic model, in the second case. 

Novel approaches in the online monitoring of the synthesis of the amphiphilic copolymers by Automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization were recently reported by Alb et al. [23]. The ACOMP monitoring platform was used to follow in real time the synthesis of 2-(dimelhylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA)/styrene (sty) copolymers by RAFT. 

Remote IR fiber-based spectroscopy allows real-time exploration of chemical reactions and, as a consequence, provides a valuable tool to access information on complex reaction mechanisms. For instance Anne et al. [160] have monitored in real time, the polymerization process of an industrial thermohardening resin using a Ge-Ga-Sb-Se optical fiber, while Li et al. employed a similar process to characterize the polymerization of styrene films [161]. In the food industry, Le Coq et al. quantitatively monitored the conversion of fructose and glucose into ethanol during the fermentation process of cider [162]. Differentiation of egg white versus egg yolk has also been demonstrated [163]. 

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