Elemental sulfur is currently produced as a major byproduct from  hydrodesulfurization processes in petroleuem refining.  However, due to the limited usages of sulfur, an enormous excess of sulfur is generated annually (over 6 million tons) and simply stored as outdoor, exposed deposits in either brick, or powder form.  Because newer fossil fuels reservoirs, such as, the tar sand regions in Alberta, Canada,  contain a high content of sulfurous substances, elemental sulfur will likely be continually generated via hydrodesulfurization processes, ensuring sustainable access to this material as a novel feedstock for chemicals and materials.  We will present our recent work on the direct polymerization of sulfur with conventional vinylic monomers via free radical processes to prepare a novel class of sulfur-rich copolymer materials.  The synthesis and characterization of these polymers will be discussed.

From garbage to plastics: Polymerizations with elemental sulfur

246th National Meeting (2013)

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