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Target‐Specific Capture of Environmentally Relevant Gaseous Aldehydes and Carboxylic Acids with Functional Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Campbell McKenzie L.,
Guerra Fernanda D.,
Dhulekar Jhilmil,
Alexis Frank,
Whitehead Daniel C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201502021
Subject(s) - chemistry , carboxylic acid , aldehyde , ethylene glycol , reactivity (psychology) , surface modification , nanoparticle , organic chemistry , polymer , peg ratio , polymer chemistry , materials science , catalysis , nanotechnology , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , finance , economics
Abstract Aldehyde and carboxylic acid volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present significant environmental concern due to their prevalence in the atmosphere. We developed biodegradable functional nanoparticles comprised of poly( d,l ‐lactic acid)‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(ethyleneimine) (PDLLA‐PEG‐PEI) block co‐polymers that capture these VOCs by chemical reaction. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) preparation involved nanoprecipitation and surface functionalization with branched PEI. The PDLLA‐PEG‐PEI NPs were characterized by using TGA, IR, 1 H NMR, elemental analysis, and TEM. The materials feature 1°, 2°, and 3° amines on their surface, capable of capturing aldehydes and carboxylic acids from gaseous mixtures. Aldehydes were captured by a condensation reaction forming imines, whereas carboxylic acids were captured by acid/base reaction. These materials reacted selectively with target contaminants obviating off‐target binding when challenged by other VOCs with orthogonal reactivity. The NPs outperformed conventional activated carbon sorbents.