Effect of Porogen Solubility Parameter on Structure of Chromatographic Supports with Large Pores

The macroporous microspheres were prepared through suspension polymerization based on a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The effect of porogen on the microspheres structure was evaluated in terms of pore size and surface area. Porogen contained dichloromethane (δ = 9.7 (cal cm–3)1/2) and N-octanol (δ = 10.3 (cal cm–3)1/2) which were correspond to a good and poor solvent, respectively. The solubility parameter of porogen was controlled in the range of 9.89–10.09 (cal cm–3)1/2. The pore size of microspheres increased with the increase of difference value of solubility parameter between the polymer and the porogen. On the contrary, the surface area of microspheres decreased. The anion exchange media was prepared through coupling poly(ethylene imine) in the microspheres and the proteins transport was determined by frontal analysis method. The macroporous microspheres with 257 nm pore size could still afford a high proteins capacity (45.1 mg mL–1). These macroporous supports showed great potential in rapid separation of proteins.