Polymer Reaction Engineering: At the Crossroads of Polymer
Science, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Engineering
João B. P. Soares
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
ABSTRACT
Most chemical engineers are familiar with the principles of chemical reaction engineering. Indeed,
it may be argued that chemical reaction engineering forms the bedrock of our profession, setting
us apart from other engineering disciplines.
When we design a chemical reactor to make small molecules, we focus on product yield and
selectivity, chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, mixing patterns and transport phenomena,
and reactor residence time distribution. But we do not worry about the identity of the product
itself. Ammonia reactors of different types may vary in effectiveness, safety, and environmental
impact, yet all of them produce chemically identical ammonia molecules.
In contrast, designing and operating polymerization reactors demands attention not only to
reaction efficiency, but also to how process choices affect the molecular architecture of the
polymer. Polymers are inherently polydisperse, and their properties are deeply influenced by the
conditions under which they are synthesized. A change in reactor design or operation can yield a
materially different product.
In this presentation, I will explore how polymer reaction engineering—a field unfamiliar to many
chemical engineers—integrates the fundamentals of chemical reaction engineering, polymer
chemistry, and materials science to produce polymers with tailor-made properties. I will illustrate
these principles with examples from my research group, including work on polyolefins, wastewater
flocculants, oil spill control polymers, membranes, and CO₂-based materials.
Bio Sketch – João B. P. Soares
João B. P. Soares is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
at the University of Alberta, where he holds a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Advanced
Polymer Reaction Engineering.
His primary research focus is polymer reaction engineering (PRE)—a field that bridges
fundamental polymer science with industrial-scale production. PRE provides the tools
needed to translate novel discoveries in polymer chemistry into practical, scalable, and
economically viable processes. Since the start of his academic career in 1995, Professor
Soares has developed and refined a comprehensive methodology that integrates
polymerization kinetics, molecular architecture characterization, and mathematical
modeling to investigate and optimize polymerization processes.
Professor Soares began his research career working on the polymerization of ethylene,
propylene, and α-olefins using coordination catalysts—an area that remains central to his
expertise. Since joining the University of Alberta, he has expanded his research program
to include:
1. The synthesis of water-soluble polymers for wastewater treatment, with a focus on
oil sands tailings remediation;
2. The development of polymer absorbers for oil spill remediation in both fresh and
marine environments;
3. The production of thin-film composite membranes for advanced wastewater
treatment;
4. The synthesis of CO₂-based polymers for carbon capture applications in the oil
industry;
5. The design of electrically conductive polymers; and
6. The development of stimuli-responsive (“smart”) polymers.