Molar-Mass-Dependent Partitioning of Polyethylene in Nanopores of Model Catalyst Supports from Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Motolani, Fawaz; Jones, Mason D.; Nagy, Gergely; Chandler, Bert D.; Long, Brian K.; Vogt, Bryan D.

doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c03416

Title: Molar-Mass-Dependent Partitioning of Polyethylene in Nanopores of Model Catalyst Supports from Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Journal Article · Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Langmuir

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c03416 · OSTI ID:3001735

Motolani, Fawaz ^[1]; Jones, Mason D. ^[2];

^[3];

^[1]; Long, Brian K. ^[2];

^[1]

Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Heterogeneous catalysis offers opportunities to enhance valorization of plastic waste via chemical recycling through control of the upcycled product distributions. Minimizing low-value light hydrocarbons is desired; however, fundamental insights into how to control selectivity are lacking. Here we use contrast variation with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), model perdeuterated polyethylenes (dPEs), and a model liquid hydrocracking product (tetradecane) to quantify polymer partitioning within mesoporous silica (SBA-15). Polyethylene concentration within the mesopores is increased relative to the bulk solution, and this partitioning increases as the temperature increases. However, this polyethylene partitioning is maximized when the radius of gyration of the polymer chains is comparable to the SBA-15 pore size (10 nm). An increased partitioning at higher temperatures is attributed to entropically driven adsorption of PE within the mesopores. There is no observed preferential partitioning of hexatriacontane (a model oligomer) within the mesopores at the temperatures examined. Furthermore, these results suggest that pore size could promote the selective partitioning of polymer species into the mesopores by size. For plastic upcycling, pore-size-dependent partitioning should increase the probability for the reaction of long polymers over oligomeric and small-molecule polyolefin depolymerization products.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 3001735

Journal Information:: Langmuir, Journal Name: Langmuir Journal Issue: 42 Vol. 41; ISSN 0743-7463; ISSN 1520-5827

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Molar-Mass-Dependent Partitioning of Polyethylene in Nanopores of Model Catalyst Supports from Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

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