Research progress in macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene co-polymer microspheres

Abstract

Macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene (St-DVB) co-polymer microspheres can be synthesized through the free-radical cross-linking co-polymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of an inert diluent. The research developments such as in preparation methods, synthesis variables and various applications achieved in the field of St-DVB co-polymer microspheres during the last few years is presented in this article. It has been shown that pore structures of St-DVB co-polymer microspheres, such as the pore size, the pore size distribution, the total pore volume, as well as the specific surface area, were strongly depended on their synthesis variables, such as the type and amount of the diluent, the amount of DVB and the volume ratio of monomer and diluent. © 2007 VSP.