| Abstract: | The radiation polymerization of hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer solution at temperatures below 0 °C leads to the formation of a porous structure in the polymers. The melting peak of the eutectic water–monomer composition at the eutectic point (above ?24 °C) could be distingushed and a glass transition temperature was observed at ?96 °C. The porous structure was developed after melting small ice pieces in the polymers after polymerization. The porous structure formed above 0 °C contained discontinuous pores and that formed below 0 °C had continuous pores leading to reticular structure. In a mixture of water –dioxane –monomer, the pore diameter decreased with increasing monomer concentration. Replacing dioxane with decane led to a maximum pore diameter at 70% monomer concentration. The pore diameter in 70% monomer concentration using water and dioxane was 1～4 µm, maximum activity in immobilized enzyme tablets was observed at this diameter. The porous structure was also varied by controlling the polymerization temperature. The durability of the immobilized enzyme tablets was demonstrated by the retention of high enzyme activities after repeated batch enzyme reactions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
