High-throughput screening of selectivity of melt polymerization catalysts using fluorescence spectroscopy and two-wavelength fluorescence imaging

A new general approach for rapid assessment of polymerization catalysts is introduced. Native fluorescence emission of solid polymers is measured directly in combinatorial 96-microreactor arrays and polymers produced in a laboratory-scale validation reactor. Fluorescence features collected with a CCD-based spectrofluorometer are correlated with chemical properties of interest such as polymer molecular weight, amount of branching, and catalyst selectivity. The approach is illustrated by screening of selectivity of melt polymerization catalysts used in synthesis of an aromatic bisphenol A polycarbonate. Selectivity of catalysts correlated with the ratio of fluorescence intensities at 400 and 500 nm at 340-nm excitation. The relative standard deviation (RSD) in spectroscopic serial measurements was 1-12.5%. This spread included instrument variability (< or = 1% RSD) and sample inhomogeneity. Parallel quantitative screening of catalyst selectivity in combinatorial 96-microreactor arrays was performed as a two-wavelength ratiometric fluorescence imaging through 400- and 500-nm interference filters and showed a good correlation (R2 = 0.994) with serial screening. Our approach is an attractive alternative to traditional separation-based techniques if speed and nondestructive nature of analysis are critical and when the high cross-linking or solvent resistance of polymers complicates traditional analysis.