Designing Hydrophilic, Reactive Polymers for CO2 Capture and Acid Gas Transport

We have developed novel polymer materials based on the photopolymerization of imidazole-styrene monomers.  These materials retain the inherent reactivity/basicity of the imidazole site as a means to transport CO2 from humid flue gas as bicarbonate anion.  However, neat poly(imidazole-styrene) materials are glassy and hydrophobic, which limits their ability to provide facilitated transport of CO2 or other acid gases and absorb/retain water.  To circumvent this issue, we are making the materials more hydrophilic and rubbery through partial neutralization with aqueous acids.  This study focuses on the relationships between pKa, acid type and swelling behavior of the polymers.