Comparison between structure and some properties of methacrylonitrile and acrylonitrile macroporous copolymers

The structure and properties of macroporous methacrylonitrile (MAN) copolymers are compared with those of acrylonitrile (AN) copolymers. These copolymers are crosslinked with divinylbenzene (DVB) or trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPA). All these copolymers were obtained by suspension polymerization from the monomer mixtures containing a good solvent — cyclohexanol and hexadecane. The copolymers are porous and their porosity in the dry state is much higher than in the swollen one. The swelling of these copolymers causes the average pore size to decrease. The kind of crosslinking agent is the most significant factor influencing the porous structure of the copolymers. MAN and TMPA copolymers (MAN-T) have the smallest average pore size and the narrowest pore distribution. Methacrylonitrile copolymers are better sorbents than acrylonitrile copolymers. Their aminolysis by ethylenediamine is much more difficult than that of the latter, but they are both suitable for lipase immobilization.