Complexing resins and method for preparation thereof

1. Polymeric beads of complexing resin comprising a polymer matrix having magnetic particles and a dispersing agent dispersed substantially uniformly therein, wherein the polymer matrix incorporates amine groups that are complexed with transition metal cation.

2. The polymeric beads of claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent is covalently bound within the polymeric matrix.

3. The polymeric beads of claim 1 prepared by a process which comprises:

(a) producing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed organic phase, said organic phase comprising one or more polymerizable monomers, magnetic particles and a dispersing agent for dispersing said magnetic particles in the organic phase; polymerizing said one or more polymerizable monomers to form polymeric beads incorporating said magnetic particles, wherein said polymeric beads include amine groups that are capable of complexing a transition metal cation and that are provided by polymerized residues of said one or more polymerizable monomers, or wherein said polymeric beads are reacted with one or more compounds to provide amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation; and

(b) contacting the so-formed polymeric beads with an aqueous solution comprising transition metal cations such that the amine groups of the beads complex with transition metal cations.

4. The polymeric beads according to claim 3 wherein the organic phase comprises two or more monomers.

5. The polymeric beads according to claim 3 wherein said one or more polymerizable monomers are selected from:

(a) crosslinking monomers which are able to provide crosslink points; and

(b) functional monomers which are able to provide functional groups.

6. The polymeric beads according to claim 5 wherein said functional monomer provides amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation.

7. The polymeric beads according to claim 6 wherein said functional monomer provides amine groups selected from dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, aminopropyl acrylamide and methacrylamide, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide and methacrylamide, vinyl pyridine, organic-soluble diallylamine and vinylimidazole salts.

8. The polymeric beads according to claim 5 wherein said functional monomer includes a functional group capable of reaction with one or more compounds to provide said amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation.

9. The polymeric beads according to claim 8 wherein said functional monomer capable of providing amine groups includes an amide group.

10. The polymeric beads according to claim 9 wherein said functional monomer including an amide group is selected from N-vinyl formamide and N-methyl-N-vinyl acetamide.

11. The polymeric beads according to claim 8 wherein said functional monomer capable of providing amine groups includes an epoxy group.

12. The polymeric beads according to claim 11 wherein said functional monomer including an epoxy group is glycidyl methacrylate.

13. The polymeric beads according to claim 8 wherein said functional monomer capable of providing amine groups is a vinyl ester.

14. The polymeric beads according to claim 13 wherein said vinyl ester is selected from acrylate and methacrylate esters.

15. The polymeric beads according to claim 14 wherein the acrylate ester is methyl acrylate.

16. The polymeric beads according to claim 3 wherein said one or more polymerizable monomers further includes one or more back bone monomers.

17. The polymeric beads according to claim 3 wherein said dispersed organic phase further comprises a porogen.

18. The polymeric beads according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic particles are selected from γ-iron oxide, magnetite and chromium dioxide.

19. The polymeric beads according to claim 3 wherein the dispersion is stabilized using a stabilizing agent.