Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (polyvidone, povidone, or PVP) is a synthetic water-soluble polymer consisting of linear 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone groups. It is hygroscopic and readily absorbs up to 40% of water by its weight. It has excellent wetting properties in solution and easily forms films, which makes it suitable for use as a coating additive.PVP can be synthesized from its monomer N-vinylpyrrolidone via free-radical polymerization in the presence of AIBN as an initiator. In chemical industries, PVP is widely used as a surface stabilizer, growth modifier, nanoparticle dispersant, and reducing agent.

PVP can serve as a surface stabilizer, nanoparticle dispersant, growth modifier, and reducing agent, depending on the synthetic conditions.

PVP (average mol wt 10,000) can be used as a stabilizing agent in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles to prevent them from agglomeration. PVP is also used in the fabrication of mesoporous silica-polymer hybrid (PVP-aminopropyl-SBA-15 Schiff Base hybrid) for the effective removal of divalent heavy metal cations from wastewater. Grafting of PVP functionalization offers a strong affinity for heavy metal ions because it provides two adsorption sites, one through metal-C-O group interaction and the other through metal-π interaction (the chelation of with Schiff base).

Polyvinylpyrrolidone is a component of Denhardt′s Solution and is included at a concentration of 1% (w/v) in the standard 50X stock solution.