Synthesis of macroporous polymer rods based on an acrylamide derivative monomer

New macroporous polymer rods were prepared by free-radical crosslinking copolymerization from N-acryloyl-tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and N,N'-methylenehisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent with different porogenic mixtures and with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The porous properties of these materials were controlled through changes in the proportions of the porogenic mixture, the polymerization temperature, or the concentration of the crosslinking agent. Pore size distribution profiles that shifted toward a larger pore size were obtained in the following cases: when the percentage of the coporogen was increased, when the copolymerization reactions were carried out at a low temperature (55 degrees C), and when the crosslinking concentration was reduced. Alternatively, a porogenic mixture formed from dimethyl sulfoxide and a 1:1 combination of tetradecanol and poly(ethylene glycol) 6000 as coporogens yielded a polymer rod with a high porosity and pore size. These hydrophilic materials are promising as base supports for different chromatographic processes and as throughput bioreactors. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.