Porous polymer monoliths adapted for sample preparation
A porous polymer monolith comprises a polymer body having macroporous through-pores that facilitate fluid flow through the body and an array of mesopores adapted to bind from the fluid flow molecules of a predetermined range of sizes, wherein the surface area of the monolith is predominantly provided by the mesopores. Also disclosed is a method of making a porous polymer monolith. The method includes forming a polymer body by phase separation out of a solution containing at least a monomer, a crosslinker and a primary porogen, whereby the body contains multiple macroporous through-pores, wherein the solution further contains a secondary porogen comprising oligomers inert with respect to the monomer and cross-linker but chemically compatible with the monomer so as to form mesostructures within the polymer body during said phase separation, and washing the mesostructures from the body to provide an array of mesopores such that the surface area of the monolith is predominantly provided by the mesopores.
1. A porous polymer monolith comprising:
a polymer body having macroporous through-pores that facilitate fluid flow through the body and an array of mesopores comprising hydrophobic sites, said mesopores adapted to bind from the fluid flow molecules of a predetermined range of sizes, wherein the surface area of the monolith is predominantly provided by the mesopores;
wherein the mesopores are formed by presence of a secondary porogen during phase separation of the polymer body from a solution, the secondary porogen comprising oligomers inert with respect to the monomer and cross-linker but chemically compatible with the monomer so as to form mesostructures within the polymer body during said phase separation, wherein the secondary porogen has a molecular weight of not more than 5000;
wherein the porous polymer monolith has a bimodal pore size distribution; and
wherein the porous polymer monolith is surface grafted to provide a hydrophilic external surface.
2. A porous polymer monolith according to claim 1 wherein the mesopores have a pore size in the range 40-120 Å.
3. A porous polymer monolith according to claim 1 wherein the macroporous through-pores have a pore size in the range of 2-3, micron.
4. A porous polymer monolith according to claim 1 , surface grafted to prepare a mixed-mode ion exchange functionality.
5. A porous polymer monolith according to claim 1 wherein greater than 65% of the surface area of the monolith is provided by the mesopores.
6. A porous polymer monolith according to claim 1 wherein at least 85% of the surface area of the monolith is provided by the mesopores.
7. A porous polymer monolith according to claim 1 wherein at least 90% of the surface area of the monolith is provided by the mesopores.
8. A porous polymer body according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer body comprises styrene monomers.
9. A porous polymer body according to claim 8 , wherein the polymer body consists of styrene monomers.
10. A porous polymer body according to claim 1 , wherein the mesopores have a pore size in the range of 20-120 Å.