• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2004

An experimental study on the preparation of monolithic porous polymers by environmentally friend process in supercritical carbon dioxide has been carried out. Polymerization mixture composed of a cross-linking monomer, initiator and functional co-polymer was charged in the reactor with sapphire window. After the system was purged with a flow of $CO_2$ for 15 min, the reactor was pressurized with liquid $CO_2$ up to 100 bars. The reactor was isolated from and placed back to the system via quick connector for shaking until the mixture had become fully homogeneous. The reactor was then heated and pressurized to the required reaction conditions and left overnight. After cooling and $CO_2$ evacuation, the polymer was removed from the reactor as dry, white, continuous monoliths. The effect of experimental conditions on the physical properties of porous polymer was systematically examined, and it was found that monomer content had a major effect on the physical properties of the polymers.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2005

Experimental researches on the preparation of porous polymeric monoliths in supercritical carbon dioxide have been performed and the effects of monomer and polymerization parameters on the physical properties of the monolith prepared were examined. Polymerizations were carried out in the high pressure stainless steel reactor with sapphire window to show the phase change during the polymerization reaction, and continuous and dry porous monolithic polymer could be obtained. The specific surface area of monolithic polymer increased with monomer contents in reaction mixture and reaction pressure. The Rockwell hardness could be enhanced by the addition of co-monomer MMA in reaction mixtures.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2006

Porous polymer monolithic columns were prepared by the direct free radical copolymerization of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate within the confines of a chromatographic column in the presence of toluene-dodecanol as a porogenic solvent. The separation characteristics of the monolithic columns were tested by a homologous series of xanthine derivatives, theophylline and caffeine. The effects of the polymerization mixture composition and polymerization condition, mobile phase composition, flow rate and temperature on the retention times and separation efficiencies were investigated. The results showed that the selection of correct porogenic solvents and appropriate polymerization conditions are crucial for the preparation of the monolithic stationary phases. The separation efficiency was only extremely weakly dependent on flow rate and temperatures. Hydrogen-bonding interaction played an important role in the retention and separation. Compared with conventional particle columns, the monolithic column exhibited good stability, ease of regeneration, high separation efficiency and fast analysis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.447-452
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• 2013

In this study we report a new method for the synthesis of a silica monolithic column bed with bimodal pores (throughpores and mesopores). The template induced synthesis method was used to direct bimodal pores simultaneously instead of the usual post base-treating method. Block polymer Pluronic F127 was chosen as a dual-function template to form hierarchically porous silica monolith with both macropores and mesopores. This is a simplification of the method of monolithic column preparation. Poly(ethylene glycol) was used as a partial substitute for F127 can effectively prevent shrinkage during the monolith aging process without losing much surface area (944 $m^2/g$ to 807 $m^2/g$). More importantly, the resultant material showed a much narrower mesopore size (centered at 6 nm) distribution than that made using only F127 as the template reagent, which helps the mass transfer process. The solvent washing method was used to remove the remaining organic template, and it was proved to be effective enough. The new synthesis method makes the fabrication of the silica monolithic column (especially capillary column) much easier. All the structure parameters indicate that monolith PFA05 prepared by the above method is a good material for separation, with the merits of much higher surface area than usual commercial HPLC silica particles, suitable mesopore volume, narrow mesopore size distribution, low shrinkage and it is easily prepared.