The porous p(GMA-co-EDMA) particles were synthesized by seeded suspension polymerization using toluene and cyclohexanol as porogens. The polystyrene (PS) seeds were prepared according to the procedure provided in the Appendix A . 0.3 g PS seeds and 5 mL of a 2.0 g∙L−1 SDS solution were sonicated for 10 min. An emulsion containing 2.0 mL of the activator DBP and 150 mL of SDS (2.53 g∙L−1) were homogenized for 10 min at 5000 rpm and added to the seed particle suspension. The mixture was stirred for 24 h at 200 rpm at room temperature. Thereafter an emulsion (10 min, 5000 rpm) containing 150 mL of SDS (3.33 g∙L−1), initiator BPO (0.4 g), porogens and acrylate monomers was added. The relative amount of added monomers (GMA:EMDA) and porogens (toluene:cyclohexanol) was systematically varied according to the experimental design (Table 1 ). The absolute volume of added monomers and porogens was 30 mL for each synthesis.
To allow for complete swelling, the system was stirred at 200 rpm for another 24 h. 150 mL of a 23.3 g∙L−1 PVA solution was added to the mixture as stabilizer. The reaction mixture was heated to 70 °C and stirred at 200 rpm for 24 h for polymerization. After polymerization the porous particles were filtered off and washed three times with ethanol and three times with water. The porous copolymer particles were then dried prior to analysis.
To allow for complete swelling, the system was stirred at 200 rpm for another 24 h. 150 mL of a 23.3 g∙L−1 PVA solution was added to the mixture as stabilizer. The reaction mixture was heated to 70 °C and stirred at 200 rpm for 24 h for polymerization. After polymerization the porous particles were filtered off and washed three times with ethanol and three times with water. The porous copolymer particles were then dried prior to analysis.