Patent ID: 8481603

Claim:
A method for making cross-linked polymer bead material, having an interconnected network of pores and a narrow pore size distribution, comprising: a) providing, and optionally mixing, monomers and optionally additives, in the presence of a first population of non-porous colloidal particles wherein the monomers are selected from acrylic, vinylic and styrenic monomers, b) dispersing the mixture in a dispersing medium, forming monomer droplets comprising the colloidal particles, c) polymerizing and cross-linking said monomer droplets comprising said colloidal particles, and d) removing said colloidal particles from the formed polymer heads, wherein said colloidal particles are hydrophobic, said monomers are hydrophobic and said dispersion medium is hydrophilic, or said colloidal particles are hydrophilic, said monomers are hydrophilic and said dispersion medium is hydrophobic; and the polymer bead material is essentially free of micropores.