Claims
- 1. A method for making a polymeric chromatographic support comprising the non-sequential steps of:
selecting a polymer particle having a desired size and shape and having a number of un-reacted alkene groups on a surface of the particle which number is from 0.01 μmol/m2 to 8 μmol/m2; selecting a chemical modifier comprising a monomer having free alkene groups which provide chromatographic performance; selecting a solvent in which the chemical modifier is soluble and which is not reactive with the selected polymer particle; placing the polymer particle and modifier in the solvent; and adding a free radical initiator and elevating the temperature as needed to cause a solution-based surface graft modification reaction that attaches the modifier to the polymer particle to produce a chromatographically enhanced resin suitable for use in chromatographic applications.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the polymer particle from the group comprising polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrenes and polyethylbenzenes.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the free radical initiator is AIBN.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the free radical initiator is AIBN.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer particle comprises a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 1 to about 500 μm.
- 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymer particle comprises a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 1 to about 500 μm.
- 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the polymer particle comprises a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 1 to about 500 μm.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer particle comprises a membrane having a thickness of about 0.25 mm to about 2 mm.
- 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymer particle comprises a membrane having a thickness of about 0.25 mm to about 2 mm.
- 10. The method of claim 3, wherein the polymer particle comprises a membrane having a thickness of about 0.25 mm to about 2 mm.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer particle comprises a cylindrical monolith.
- 12. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymer particle comprises a cylindrical monolith.
- 13. The method of claim 3, wherein the polymer particle comprises a cylindrical monolith.
- 14. A method of enhancing a chromatographic property of a polymer particle to form a resin suitable for chromatographic applications, the method comprising:
obtaining a polymer particle having a surface with at least one unreacted alkene group formed on the surface with a concentration of from about 0.01 μmol/m2 to about 8 μmol/m2; and forming the resin by initiating a solution-based, surface graft modification upon the surface to enhance the chromatographic property of the polymer particle by attaching at least one chemical modifier to the at least one unreacted alkene group on the surface, the chemical modifier having a monomer with one unreacted alkene group therein which is suitable for chromatographic applications.
- 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one free radical initiator to stimulate bonding between the alkene group in the chemical modifier and the at least one unreacted alkene group on the polymer particle.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the polymer particle is (poly)styrene-divinylbenzene.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the chemical modifier is N-vinylpyrrolidone.
- 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the modifier includes a monomer having an element that is not found in the polymer particle; and
determining the amount of that element after the surface graft modification and using the amount of that element to evaluate the extent of surface graft modification that occurred.
- 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the element is sulfur.
- 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the modifier includes a monomer having an element that is not found in the polymer particle, and further including:
determining a concentration of the unreacted alkene group based upon the content of the element in the polymer particle.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the element is contained in 2-mercaptoethanol.
- 22. The method of claim 16 wherein the free radical initiator is AIBN.
- 23. A resin having an enhanced chromatographic property for use in chromatographic applications, comprising:
a polymer particle defining a surface having at least one unreacted alkene group formed thereon; and a monomer having at least one unreacted alkene group thereon attached to the at least one unreacted alkene group on the surface of the polymer particle through surface graft modification performed in a solution that dissolves the monomer but does not chemically react with the monomer or the particle in order to form the resin, the monomer being selected to enhance the chromatographic property of the polymer particle when attached to the particle to form the resin.
- 24. The resin of claim 23, wherein there is only one alkene group in the monomer.
- 25. The resin of claim 23, wherein wherein the polymer particle is (poly)styrene-divinylbenzene
- 26. The resin of claim 24, wherein the polymer particle is (poly)styrene-divinylbenzene.
- 27. The resin of claim 26, wherein the monomer is N-vinylpyrrolidone.
- 28. The resin of claim 23, further comprising a housing containing the resin therein, the housing being configured to attach to a predetermined chromatographic apparatus during use of the resin.
- 29. The resin of claim 26, wherein the polymer and resin comprise a plurality of beads having a diameter of about 1 μm to about 500 μm.
- 30. The resin of claim 26, wherein the polymer and resin comprise a membrane having a thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 50 mm.
- 31. The resin of claim 26, wherein the polymer and resin comprise a monolith having a cylindrical shape.
- 32. The resin of claim 26, wherein the particle is selected from the group comprising polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyethylbenzenes and polystyrenes.
- 33. A method of separating at least one target solute from a solution, the method comprising the steps of:
determining at least one target solute to be separated from the solution; obtaining a polymer particle having an unreacted alkene group on the surface thereof, the polymer particle being selected from the group comprising polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and polystyrene-divinylbenzene; selecting a monomeric alkene group having the ability to attract the target solute and retain that target a time sufficient for chromatographic application; and using a solution based, free radical initiated, surface graft modification to attach the selected monomeric alkene group to the unreacted alkene group on the polymer particle.
- 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising contacting the target solute with the polymer particle so the selected monomeric alkene group retains the target solute during a chromatographic application.
- 35. The method of claim 33, further comprising selecting the polymer particle to comprise a plurality of beads having a diameter of about 1 μm to about 500 μm.
- 36. The method of claim 33, further comprising selecting the polymer particle to comprise a membrane having a thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 50 mm.
- 37. The method of claim 26, wherein the polymer particle comprises a monolith.
- 38. The method of claim 26, wherein the surface graft modification uses a free radical initiator comprising AIBN.
- 39. The method of claim 33, wherein the solution used in the graft modification is selected from the group comprising methanol, 1,4-dioxane, and tetrahydrofuran.
- 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the monomer is selected from the group comprising styrene, acrylates, ethylbenzene and methacrylate.
- 41. The method of claim 38, wherein the polymer particle is selected to have at least two desired physical characteristic selected from the group comprising polymer material, pore size, pore volume, pore density, surface area, particle shape and particle size.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/351,695 filed Jan. 25, 2002, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60351695 |
Jan 2002 |
US |