Sorption of Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene by Poly(ethyl methacrylate) and Plasticized Poly(ethyl methacrylate) at 298.15 K Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Abstract

Solubilities of benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene (BTEX compounds, together with xylene) in poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and plasticized PEMA at 298.15 K were measured using a quartz crystal microbalance and are reported in the form of solvent activity versus solvent weight fraction. Two plasticizers, diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) and diisooctyl azelate (DIOA), were studied, each at three different concentration levels in the polymer. The presence of a plasticizer increases the solubility of all three compounds. Data were interpreted using a pseudobinary Flory−Huggins model in which the plasticized polymer is considered to be a single pseudocomponent.

Polymer–Plasticizer Coatings for BTEX Detection Using Quartz Crystal Microbalance

“…The systems considered here consist of solvent (1), polymer (2), and plasticizer (3). We modified the Flory–Huggins theory for a ternary system consisting of a polymer, a plasticizer, and a solvent in a previous work [ 18 ]. Because the polymer/plasticizer ratio is fixed, these systems can be considered to be pseudo-binary systems, with appropriate definitions for the molar volume and molecular weight of the film, and the interaction parameter.…”

“…Generally, the performance and sensitivity of rubbery polymers towards hydrocarbon sensing are superior to those of glassy polymers; however, they have low molecular selectivity due to their amorphous nature, the availability of large free volume elements, and their viscoelasticity [ 16 ]. Plasticization helps to modify the chemical and physical properties of a glassy polymer by decreasing the glass transition temperature, altering the pore dimensions, and increasing the free volume of the polymer film, thus enabling higher diffusion and sorption of the analyte molecules [ 17 , 18 ]. Sensing films based on polymer–plasticizer films have been developed in this study to detect volatile organic compounds in the air, specifically benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene, using a QCM device.…”

“…The Josse group [ 16 , 21 , 22 ] reported the first-ever detection of benzene at ppb levels using SAW sensors with polymer–plasticizer coatings. Kaur et al [ 18 ] from our laboratory studied the effect of plasticization on glassy polymer sorption using diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) and diisooctyl azelate (DIOA) as the plasticizers, and PEMA as the polymer.…”

Sorption of Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene at Low Concentrations by Plasticized Poly(ethyl methacrylate) and Polystyrene Polymers Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance at 298.15 K

“…Solubility data of organic compounds in polymers and co-polymers from the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) have produced interesting thermodynamic results and interpretation. − In this study, we present solubilities of benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene (BTEX compounds, along with xylenes) in plasticized poly­(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and polystyrene (PS) at 298.15 K using a QCM equipped with a new vapor generation system to target low concentrations. As part of the continuing study on the effect of added plasticizers on solvent sorption, three plasticizers, diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), diisooctyl azelate (DIOA), and n -butyl stearate (BS), have been added to the homopolymers of PEMA and PS.…”

“…As part of the continuing study on the effect of added plasticizers on solvent sorption, three plasticizers, diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), diisooctyl azelate (DIOA), and n -butyl stearate (BS), have been added to the homopolymers of PEMA and PS. It has been previously reported ,− as to how the addition of plasticizers modifies the chemical and physical properties of glassy polymers and further improves the sorption of organic species. In this study, the effect of plasticization is evaluated by collecting sorption data and extracting the infinite dilution partition coefficient values from these data.…”