Abstract: A separation medium comprising a hydrogel preparation having macropores and micropores, wherein the hydrogel preparation is prepared by reacting a first gel component and a second gel component in an aqueous solvent. The first gel component comprises a first monomer, oligomer, polymer, or combination thereof having at least one polymerizable double bond, and a first crosslinker having at least two polymerizable double bonds. The second gel component comprises a second monomer, oligomer, polymer, or combination thereof having at least one pendant functional group per repeat unit, and a second crosslinker having at least two functional groups, each capable of reacting with the at least one pendant functional group of the second monomer, oligomer, polymer, or combination thereof.

Abstract: A polymeric hydrogel having a network of a macropores and micropores formed by copolymerizing at least one monomer having at least one double bond and at least one crosslinker having at least two double bonds in the presence of an organic additive forming a hydro-organic system with water, and uses thereof as separation media.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparation of a microgel comprising polymerising a monomer composition comprising a monounsaturated monomer and a multiunsaturated crosslinking monomer as a solution in an organic solvent, by free radical solution polymerisation wherein the reactivity ratio of the monounsaturated monomer is significantly different from the multiunsaturated monomer and the concentration of the monomer component and the proportion of crosslinking monomer in said monomer composition is controlled to provide a solution of discrete microgel particles of number average molecular weight of at least 105

Abstract: The invention relates to a microgel composition comprising microgel particles of weight average molecular weight above 50,000 wherein a 60% w/w solution of the microgel in dioxane has a viscosity of less than 10 Pa.s measured by cone and plate viscometry.

Abstract: A polymeric membrane system containing a polymeric membrane and a substrate with interstitial gaps. Polymeric membrane components reside within the interstitial gaps of the substrate and below the surface of the substrate. Also, the layer of polymeric membrane components is thinner than the cross-sectional thickness of the substrate.