Hot Chemistry in Cool 3D-Printed Plastics

Thanks to the efforts of scientists in the UK, it may now be possible to perform “hot” chemistry in sealed reactors made from 3D-printed polypropylene.

The plastic reactors can be used to perform hydrothermal chemical syntheses. University of Glasgow chemistry researchers Lee Cronin and Ross Forgan developed a process in which they print part of the vessels, add the reagents, and then finish the printing so that the reagents are sealed within before the whole thing is placed in an oven. Afterward, the vessels are removed and cut open. The reactors are able to maintain their integrity below 150˚C.

So far, sealed lab-scale reactors with varying capacities can be printed, along with grids of sealed chambers for high-throughput screening of reactants and conditions. Typically, stainless steel autoclave bombs are needed for hydrothermal synthesis, which requires heating mixtures up to 140˚C or more for several hours. 3D printed reactors could cut costs for laboratories.

In testing, the researchers were able to successfully achieve the synthesis of two metal-organic frameworks, with results comparable to those achieved using traditional equipment. A test of the 5x5 grid of reaction chambers made using the process yielded the discovery of two new three-dimensional coordination polymers.

The research was published in the journal Angewandte Chemie in July.

You can read the team’s previous research in Nature, as well as our previous coverage of their work in 3D-printed reactionware here.

“We have shown that the concept works, and that you can use it to discover new materials,” Cronin said. “Clearly there are limitations involving solvent compatibility and taking the temperature beyond 150˚C. But most hydrothermal reactions use alcohol or water and most are done at 140 to 150˚C. Also there are other plastics available that do melt at higher temperatures.”

Source: ChemistryWorld