Novel Preparation of Monodisperse Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) Microspheres by Controlled Dispersion Polymerization

Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles possessing uniform properties are attractive for various chromatographic applications. However, their preparation by dispersion polymerization is rather complicated. Our aim was to prepare monodisperse PS microspheres by dispersion polymerization of styrene with controlled addition of 1 wt % of divinyl benzene. The reaction occurs in a mixture of ethanol with 2-methoxyethanol or 2-ethoxyethanol and is stabilized and initiated by hydroxypropyl cellulose and dibenzoyl peroxide, respectively. The effects of the medium polarity based on changing of the solvent mixture ratio and several modes of divinyl benzene addition, including simple one-shot and continuous divinyl benzene post-addition, on the particle size and morphology are investigated. Slow continuous dosing of 1 wt % of divinyl benzene one hour after the start of the styrene polymerization produce monodisperse spherical PS particles 5.4 μm in size. Such microspheres might be suitable as precursor for a solid adsorbent for harmful and carcinogenic organic vapors.