Computer Simulation of a Biphasic Catalytic Process in the Presence of Polymer Microgels

Abstract

The reaction of a biphasic catalysis with microgels bearing catalytic groups adsorbed at liquid interface was simulated for the first time using dissipative particle dynamics. It was shown that the rate of the catalytic process increases with the degree of deformation of the polymer network, which depends on the fraction of the crosslinker and the solubility of the polymer in both phases. It was found that the highest reaction rate was observed when the microgel was soluble in both phases due to an increase in its porosity (in comparison with amphiphilic microgels) and in the water–microgel–oil contact area with a simultaneous decrease in the time for the reagents to reach the catalytic groups due to the flattening of the microgel. The results obtained can be useful for increasing the efficiency of a wide range of catalytic reactions of the type considered through the use of network-like macromolecules.