Sorption properties of styrene–divinylbenzene macroreticular porous polymers

Abstract

The sorption properties of some styrene–divinylbenzene macroreticular porous polymer sorbents for solid-phase extraction are characterized using the solvation parameter model. Dispersion interactions are generally responsible for retention with a small contribution from hydrogen-bond interactions that may arise from the presence of polymer impurities. Lone pair–lone pair electron repulsion is a common mechanism reducing retention. Interactions of a dipole-type are not significant for styrene–divinylbenzene sorbents while these play a significant role in retention on Tenax sorbents, highlighting the complementary character of these two porous polymers. The solvation parameter model can also be used to characterize retention of styrene–divinylbenzene sorbents in non-aqueous solvents and to predict conditions resulting in maximum sample concentration in the recovery step in solid-phase extraction.