Polysilazane thermosetting polymers for use in chromatographic systems and applications

1. An adsorptive structure comprising particulate adsorptive material lodged in a matrix, wherein the matrix comprises an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition, and wherein the matrix is derived from a cross-linked polymer chosen from a polysilazane, a polysiloxane, or a mixture of a polysilazane and a polysiloxane.

2. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 wherein the ceramic composition comprises at least about 30% carbon atoms, at least about 2% nitrogen atoms, between about 10% and about 50% silicon atoms, and at least about 10% oxygen atoms.

3. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 comprising between about 0.1 and about 99.8% by weight particulate adsorptive material.

4. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 wherein the particulate adsorptive material is chosen from carbon particles, organic polymer particles, silica particles, zeolite particles, alumina particles, and metal or ceramic powders.

5. The adsorptive structure of claim 4 wherein at least about 95% by weight of the particulate adsorptive material has a particle size from about 40 microns to about 60 microns.

6. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 wherein at least 1% by weight of the particulate adsorptive material has a particle size ranging from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns.

7. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 wherein the adsorptive material lodged in the matrix has essentially the same distribution of pore widths as the adsorptive material in isolation.

8. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 , wherein the adsorptive structure comprises a plurality of discrete bodies, wherein each of the plurality of discrete bodies comprises the particulate adsorptive material lodged in the matrix.

9. The adsorptive structure of claim 8 , wherein the adsorptive structure is an adsorptive bed comprising the plurality of discrete bodies.

10. The adsorptive structure of claim 1 wherein the matrix is substantially not irreversibly adsorptive of an analyte or other target compound that is adsorbed by the particulate adsorptive material.

11. An adsorptive structure comprising particulate adsorptive material lodged in a matrix comprising an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition and/or adhered to an underlying surface via a film comprising an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition, said ceramic composition comprising an oligomer comprising repeating units in which nitrogen is combined with an element selected from the group consisting of silicon, a Group III metal, a Group IVA metal, a Group IVB metal, and combinations thereof, and wherein said oligomer comprises repeating units having the formula:

wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, vinyl, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, mercapto, acetoxy, halo, hydroxyalkyl, dimethylamino, oxime, isocyanate, CH 2 Q-(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n OH,

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methacryl, C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, fluoroalkyl, carbonyl, carbinol, glycidyl, straight, branched or cyclic —(CH 2 —O—CH 2 ) n , and aryl optionally substituted with C 1-6 alkyl, fluoro, chloro, cyano or aryl;

Q is C 1-8 alkyl; and

n is 1 to about 20.

12. An adsorptive structure comprising a particulate adsorptive material lodged in a matrix comprising an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition and/or adhered to an underlying surface via a film comprising an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition wherein said ceramic composition is derived from an oligomer having the formula:

wherein R is H or —CH═CH 2 and n is 1 to 20.