ENZYMATIC POLYMERIZATIONS USING SURFACTANT MICROSTRUCTURES AND THE PREPARATION OF POLYMER-FERRITE COMPOSITES

Horseradish peroxidase has been used as a biocatalyst to synthesize a polymeric material from alkyl-substituted phenols. The synthesis is carried out in a surfactant-based microemulsion environment, with the monomer partitioned at the oil/water interface. The spherical nature of the microemulsion nanodroplets may be acting as a template for the polymer synthesis. The resultant polymer particles are spherical and typically in the submicron size range. The characteristics of the morphology development are described. The templating effect of the surfactant environment becomes more evident when the polymer particles are fully dissolved in a suitable solvent and refolded in the presence of surfactant. Interestingly, submicron-sized spherical particles are obtained only in the presence of surfactant, and particles of arbitrary morphology are seen in the absence of surfactant. Aspects of morphology development leading to the preparation of polymer-iron oxide composites are described.