A simple method for estimating parameters representing macroporosity of porous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers

Abstract

A quick, easy, and novel method to estimate pore volume (PV), pore size distribution, surface area (SA), and swelling coefficient in acetone (SC a) of porous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer beads on the basis of their density (d) in dry state is developed. The density is determined by measuring cylinder method. The equation to calculate the parameters are 11.993 d2 - 14.04 d + 4.2 for PV, 68.449 ln(PV) + 208.08 for SA, and 136.47 e-1.8323(PV) for SCa. Regression analysis shows a close match between the estimated values and the corresponding values measured by mercury porosimetry, with square of the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient through data points in known y's and known x's (R2) values in the range of 0.93-0.99. The pore size distribution can be estimated from the given curves for the corresponding pore volume value. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.