Development of silica templating approaches allowing in-column polymerization of low domain size polymer monoliths for liquid chromatography applications

This project intends to use HPLC columns packed with porous silica material as templates for in-column polymerization allowing the fabrication of more efficient monolithic chromatographic columns. Preliminary work showed that it is possible to perform free radical polymerizations inside the pores of porous silica material. The polymerization of the inner and interconnecting pores and of the through pores is envisaged.