Macroporous polymers were synthesized from nonaqueous high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) containing styrene/divinylbenzene, oxalic acid dihydrate/choline chloride (OAc/ChCl) deep eutectic solvent (DES), as the continuous and internal phases, respectively, and mixtures of nonionic surfactant and unmodified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as co-stabilizers. The effect of CNC/surfactant ratio on the DES-in-oil HIPEs morphology and their rheological properties was thoroughly investigated. Upon free-radical polymerization poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (pSt/DVB) polyHIPEs with highly interconnected macroporous structures, cellulose functionalizing the pores surface, and robust mechanical properties were obtained. Additionally, the proof-of-concept of using OAc/ChCl DES for the pretreatment of cellulosic material for the generation of nanocellulose dispersions<i>, </i>which was used as the internal phase of DES-in-oil HIPEs, was successfully explored. Polymerization of these stable emulsions produced macroporous polymers containing cellulose in the walls with comparable properties to the polyHIPEs containing CNC.

Cellulose nanocrystals-functionalized interconnected macroporous polystyrene synthesized by emulsion templating based on oxalic acid deep eutectic solvent

ACS Spring 2022

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