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Nonaqueous Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Double Emulsions as a Novel Platform for Synthesizing Macroporous Beads with
Daniela Ortiz-Ríos1, Carolina L Recio-Colmenares1, Sergio Gómez-Salazar2
1Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tonalá, Jalisco 45425, México.
ACS Omega
|January 8, 2026
Summary
Nonaqueous deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based double emulsions efficiently create spherical polyHIPE beads. These robust beads show high oil sorption capacity and reusability for water remediation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science: Synthesis of porous polymers.
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry: Emulsion stabilization and templating.
- Environmental Engineering: Water treatment and oil spill remediation.
Background:
- Traditional aqueous-based emulsion methods often yield irregular porous structures.
- Developing stable, well-defined macroporous materials requires advanced fabrication techniques.
- Nonaqueous systems offer potential for enhanced stability and controlled morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, nonaqueous platform for synthesizing spherical polyHIPE beads.
- To investigate the influence of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and process parameters on bead morphology and properties.
- To evaluate the performance of synthesized polyHIPE beads in emulsified engine oil removal from water.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of primary high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) using styrene, divinylbenzene, and Span 60 surfactant in a nonaqueous DES continuous phase.
- Dispersion of primary HIPEs into a secondary DES medium to form stable double-HIPEs (DES1/O/DES2).
- Free-radical polymerization of double-HIPEs to yield spherical polyHIPE beads; characterization of morphology, porosity, surface area, and mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- Uniform spherical polyHIPE beads with tunable porosity and interconnected macroporous structures were successfully synthesized using DES-based double-HIPEs.
- Adjusting surfactant concentration, DES viscosity, and addition rate allowed fine control over bead diameter, pore size, and surface area (up to 5.78 m²/g).
- Aqueous emulsion methods resulted in irregular beads with collapsed porosity, unlike the stable DES system.
- The optimized polyHIPE beads demonstrated excellent performance in removing emulsified engine oil (92% removal, 383.04 mg/g capacity) at high flow rates and were reusable for multiple cycles.
Conclusions:
- Nonaqueous DES-based double emulsions provide a robust and versatile platform for templating spherical polyHIPE beads with controlled architectures.
- The synthesized polyHIPE beads exhibit superior performance in oil sorption compared to monolithic polyHIPEs, highlighting the advantages of spherical morphology and controlled porosity.
- This approach offers a promising route for fabricating application-tailored porous materials by incorporating various monomers and functional nanoparticles.
