Abstract
The aim of this work was to prepare a new group of aromatic methacrylate monomers, utilise them in preparation of porous microspheres and study the influence of their chemical structure on the textural properties of porous methacrylate microspheres. Polymeric microspheres were prepared by suspension-emulsion polymerisation of four aromatic monomers: methacryloiloxybenzene, 1,2-dimethacryloiloxybenzene, 1,3-dimethacryloiloxybenzene and 1,4-dimethacryloiloxybenzene with another crosslinking agent—trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate. Mass median diameters of obtained beads are in the range 22–35 μm. The polymerisation reactions were carried out in the presence of a pore forming diluent. The influence of the diluent system on the porous structure of microspheres was studied in detail. To determine the textural properties of the studied microspheres, nitrogen adsorption–desorption and inverse sized exclusion chromatography measurements were used. Specific surface area of the obtained microspheres achieves value from 185 to 510 m2/g. Since obtained polymeric materials can be used as chromatographic packings for HPLC their porous structure in a swollen state was investigated. Significant differences in the porous structure parameters for dry and swollen microspheres were observed.
Highlights
The use of crosslinked homopolymers and copolymers in the shape of microspheres with tailor made properties is a topic of increasing activity and interest
The aim of our work was to investigate the influence of the chemical structure of monomers on the particle granulation, chemical structure and textural parameters of microspheres prepared with suspension-emulsion polymerisation
Chemical structures of as synthesised methacrylate monomers were confirmed by spectroscopic methods
Summary
The use of crosslinked homopolymers and copolymers in the shape of microspheres with tailor made properties is a topic of increasing activity and interest. Such materials are widely used as ion exchangers, polymeric adsorbents, polymeric stationary phases for chromatography, polymeric carriers for solid organic synthesis and immobilisation of enzymes [1,2,3,4,5]. Functional groups on the surface of polymeric microspheres determine their use. For chromatographic applications the morphological properties and the surface chemistry of particles should be appropriate for intended use. Aromatic methacrylates are highly reactive monomers due to the presence of the aromatic ring from one side and the ester group from another. Incorporation of multifunctional methacrylate monomers into the polymer network changes the selectivity of porous microspheres [10, 11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
