Preparation of macroporous methacrylate-based monoliths for chromatographic applications by the Reactive Gelation Process

Polymeric monoliths are a relatively new separation medium for chromatographic applications. The innovative approach to produce such monoliths, the Reactive Gelation Process, presented by Marti et al. [1] for polystyrene macroporous materials is applied to a methacrylate-based material. It is shown that it is possible to create a macroporous structure by Reactive Gelation also with this polymer even if the properties of the material are different. Besides the analysis of the material by SEM and BET, several chromatographic methods are used to analyze the material properties. The ISEC experiments showed a much smaller size exclusion effect than in conventional packed beds. The permeability of the material is comparable to a packed bed with 4.13 μm particles. The column efficiency is not changing for increasing flow rates. Because of the high efficiency of the material, shorter columns are needed and therefore the comparatively low permeability is compensated. The monolith also exhibits a significant adsorption capacity for hydrophobic interaction, which makes it suitable for chromatographic purification processes.