Emulsion polymerization of styrene using phospholipid as emulsifier. Immobilization of phospholipids on the latex surface

Emulsion polymerization of styrene using polymerizable and non-polymerizable phospholipids with double alkyl chains (1a, 1b), and their single-chain analogues (2a, 2b) as emulsifier gave polymer latices with narrow size distribution. The resulting latices, which were subjected to acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, and reprecipitation with methanol, were characterized by phosphorus analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The phospholipids remained mainly on the surface of the latices. The non-polymerizable emulsifiers were physically adsorbed on the latices, but the polymerizable emulsifiers were chemically bound to the latices. Phospholipid 1b on the latex prepared with a lipophilic radical initiator was hydrolyzed by phospholipase C.