IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF MACROPOROUS POLYSTYRENE SORBENTS USING ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING TO ENHANCE MASS CONTRAST - THE ARCHITECTURAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLYMER POROSITY AND ABSORPTION CAPACITY

We describe the microscopical analysis of two polystyrene divinylbenzene copolymers (PS-DVB) made using 20 and 55% (v/v) DVB cross-linker respectively, in which the hydrated structure of each polymeric material solvated in water is preserved by employing very rapid freezing and low-temperature freeze-drying techniques. Using the zero-loss mode of electron spectroscopic imaging to enhance the contrast of unstained polymer sections, we introduce some novel methods for the application of computer-assisted image analysis for routine examination of polymer pore structure. We also relate these parameters to the ability of the two polymers to absorb nanometre-sized particles-neutral colloidal gold particles and cationized ferritin. Both methods will be invaluable in the structural analysis of porous polymers, but particularly for comparative analyses of macroporous sorbents.