As simple as H2O: Researchers find “ground-breaking” polymer extraction method for cosmetics

12 Jul 2022 --- A research team from the Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) has discovered a simple method to obtain versatile porous polymers by adding water to polyethylenimine (PEI).

Despite its “huge potential”, PEI is held back by the fact that ethylenimine is a highly toxic substance. Because it is commercially unavailable, it is rather difficult to conduct experiments aimed at controlling the morphology of PEI. As a consequence, many new applications for PEI might be missed.

The team from Japan's SIT has concentrated on creating new PEI-based network polymers to address this issue. This group has developed a “straightforward yet ground-breaking” method to create such polymers beginning with a triaziridine molecule; their suggestion: “just add water.”

Cosmetic applications
Polymers can be used by cosmetic chemists to make high-performance products. A vast spectrum of cosmetic and personal care products employ a wide range of polymers as film-formers, emulsifiers, thickeners, modifiers, protective barriers and aesthetic enhancers.

These polymers include natural polymers, synthetic polymers, organic polymers and silicones.

For a polymer composed of very simple repeating units, PEI has an astounding number of practical applications, including detergents, adhesives, cosmetics, industrial agents, carbon capture and even cellular cultures, outline the researchers

Ethylenimine, commonly known as aziridine, is typically polymerized via ring-opening to create PEI. In this manner, a liquid polymer with a branching structure is created.

A research team discovered a simple method to obtain versatile porous polymers by adding water to PEI.Water you waiting for?
Being able to tailor the morphological and mechanical characteristics of PEI-based porous polymers is a big advantage, the team says, even more so when all that’s needed is adjusting a simple reaction with water.

“Water is an ideal solvent for chemistry because of its eco-friendliness, availability, and sustainability,” remarks Professor Naga, “Our paper reports one of the easiest methods to obtain a PEI-based network polymer known to date.”

Overall, this research should increase awareness of innovative PEI-based polymers. Professor Naga and colleagues anticipate discovering unexpected applications for these substances in the future.

“Processing and chemical modification of the 3AZ porous polymers will likely expand their fields of application, and investigations on these aspects are already underway,” he concludes.

Research results
The researchers tested two triaziridine compounds, only one of them could consistently yield a porous polymer network after reacting with water. Its complete chemical name is 2,2-bishydroxymethylbutanol-tris[3-(1-aziridinyl)propionate], abbreviated as ‘3AZ.’

The researchers found that opening up the aziridine groups and causing the 3AZ monomers to bond with one another only required dissolving 3AZ in distilled water at temperatures in the moderate range of 20 to 50 °C. The result, under most temperatures and initial 3AZ concentrations, was a porous polymer phase.

The morphology of the porous polymers was examined by the researchers using images from an electron microscope. Varying 3AZ concentrations resulted in different particle sizes, but the synthesis temperature “didn't seem to have” much of an impact.

By Mieke Meintjes

To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com