In this study, the phase transition phenomena of linear poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and linear or star-shaped poly(acrylic acid-co-methyl acrylate) (P(AA-co-MA)) in highly concentrated KCl solutions were investigated. The effects of polymer molecular weight, topology, and composition on their phase transition behavior in solution were investigated. The cloud point temperature (T_CP) of polymers drastically increased as the KCl concentration (C_KCl) and solution pH increased. C_KCl strongly influenced the temperature range at which the phase transition of PAA occurred: C_KCl of 1.0–2.2 M allowed the phase transition to occur between 30 and 75 °C. Unfortunately, at C_KCl above 2.6 M, the T_CP of PAA was too high to theoretically trigger the crystallization of KCl. The addition of hydrophobic methyl acrylate moieties decreased the T_CP into a temperature region where KCl crystallization could occur. Additionally, the hydrodynamic diameters (D_h) and zeta potentials of commercial PAA samples were examined at room temperature and at their T_CP using dynamic light scattering. The salt concentration (from 1 to 3 M) did not impact the hydrodynamic diameter of the molecules. D_h values were 1500 and 15 nm at room temperature and at T_CP, respectively.

The research presented in this manuscript is focused on the pyrolysis of waste pharmaceutical blisters, which are a large and neglected group of waste, that could be possibly recovered. The studies were focused on the analysis of the chemical composition, as well as fuel properties of the char generated during the process and its possible applications. The process temperatures (400, 425, and 450 °C) were determined based on the thermogravimetric study that was performed prior to the pyrolysis tests. The selected materials included the pre- and post-consumer waste pharmaceutical blisters in order to determine the possible influence of impurities on the final products. The tests were performed on a laboratory scale fixed bed reactor. The obtained solid fractions (metal and char) were separated. Char was subjected to elemental analysis (C, H, N, Cl, S), as well as the heat of combustion and fuel-related properties (content of flammable, non-flammable, and volatile components) were determined. The results were used to compare the properties of char to the properties of active carbon. The market potential was analyzed.