Preparation of polymers by aqueous ring opening metathesis polymerisation and their application to industrial water treatment processes.

Abstract

The work described in this thesis was concerned with the synthesis and aqueous Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerisation (ROMP) of some functionalised homo- and heteropolycyclic olefins. The objectives of the work were to explore the range of monomers and catalysts available for the aqueous ROMP reaction, and to assess the application of some of die polymers prepared for the prevention of aragonite precipitation from salt water. This thesis is divided into seven chapters. In the first chapter the background of industrial water treatment and ROMP is reviewed. Chapter Two gives details of the synthesis and characterisation of some functionalised derivatives of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, and bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene. Chapter Three gives details of the aqueous ROMP of die monomers prepared in chapter Two, and their characterisation. The fourth chapter is concerned with the preparation and characterisation of oligomers via aqueous ROMP. The fifth chapter discusses the observations recorded in chapters Three and Four, and the sixth chapter gives details of the industrial testing of some of the polymers/oligomers. Conclusions, and proposals for future work are made in the final chapter.