Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a separation media based on adsorption comprising a polyvinyl ether having different or identical vinyl ether subunits, and towards an insoluble polyvinyl ether comprising free terminal valencies, side hydrogen or methyl groups, as well as plurality of hydrophillic organic groups, wherein hydrogen is replaced by organic residues having affinity to bioorganic molecules.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a separation method comprising the steps: (i) contacting an aqueous liquid that contains a dissolved substance that is to be enriched with a polymer under conditions allowing selective partition of said substance to said polymer, whereafter (ii) said polymer containing said substance is removed from said aqueous liquid. The polymer employed is a poly(vinyl ether) having different or identical vinyl ether subunits (1) where X et Y are selected among hydrogen and methyl; and R is selected among organic groups. A plurality of R are equal to a hydrophilic organic group. One or more R comprise a bioaffinity ligand; an ion exchange group, etc. The method may be applied to bioseparations such as gel, affinity, ion exchange and covalent chromatography and corresponding batch procedures. Also disclosed are vinyl ether polymers that can be employed in the method.