Novel polystyryl resins for size exclusion chromatography

New size exclusion chromatography (SEC) resins based on a crosslinker having independent vinyl groups have been produced and compared with SEC resins based on divinylbenzene-55 (DVB). 1,2-Bis(p-vinylphenyl)ethane (p,p-BVPE) and its meta-isomers were suspension-copolymerized with p-methylstyrene in the presence of different porogens to give particles of about 5 μm average diameter. The porous particles were slurry-packed into stainless steel columns for SEC evaluation. Calibration curves were obtained using narrow disperse polystyrene standards with molecular weights ranging from 580 to 3,040,000. The calibration curves for the new BVPE resins covered wider useful molecular weight ranges than those for comparable divinylbenzene resins. Particle size, surface morphology and the properties of pores were studied using a Coulter Multisizer II, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and mercury porosimetry. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.