Experimental-design study of the influence of the polymerization conditions on the characteristics of copolymers used for liquid chromatography

A model system was developed for determination of the most important factor s affecting a polymerization reaction used to obtain polymeric beads for li quid chromatography. An initial series of experiments has established the i dentity and concentration of the most effective protective colloid, the rel ative percentages of organic solvent and porogen compounds, the volumes of the aqueous and organic media, and the nature of the latter and of the init iator compound. Preparation of polymers with different specific surfaces, p ore diameters, and other characteristics, for example total porous volume, is described. The results obtained show that macroporous packings have diff erent specific surface areas and mean pore diameters depending on the cyclo hexanol-to-dodecanol ratio and on the amount of monomer (monomer (hydroxyet hyl or glycidyl methacrylate)-to-comonomer (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) ratio). The characteristics do not change on treatment with sulfuric acid to obtain the diol function from the epoxy group.