SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF UNIFORM BEADS BASED ON MACROPOROUS COPOLYMER GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE ETHYLENE DIMETHACRYLATE - A WAY TO IMPROVE SEPARATION MEDIA FOR HPLC

Monodisperse beads based on hydrolyzed macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) for use.as size-exclusion HPLC packings were synthesized by the method of "activated" swelling of polystyrene seeds followed by a suspension polymerization of both methacrylates. Effects of the type and fraction of the swelling agent, inert porogenic solvent, and cross-linking monomer on the uniformity of the particles, extent of the specific surface area, pore volume, pore size, and pore-size distribution and chromatographic properties (size-exclusion limit and column efficiency) have been investigated. Trends leading to the synthesis of macroporous particles with predesigned properties for use in size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography in both aqueous and organic mobile phase were studied.