Porous poly(methylmethacrylate) and poly(methylmethacrylate-co-acrylamide)

The characteristics of two types of porous polymers: poly(methyl methacrylate) and copolymers of methyl methacrylate and acrylamide were investigated in this study. Poly(methyl methacrylate) was synthesized in suspension, using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking agent, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as the protective colloid, and benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-acrylamide) was initiated in emulsion in the presence of dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt, followed by a sol-gel process, and completely reacted to the solid state. Potassium persulfate was used as the initiator, and tetramethylol glycoluril as the cross-linking agent. Both types of syntheses were carried out in the presence of ethyl acetate. The porosity, specific surface and distribution of the pore sizes of the obtained polymers were determined by mercury porosimetry. The polymers were used as inert carriers for the immobilization of enzymes and whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast