Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymer beads having a porous polymeric matrix in which is distributed solid particulate material; the process comprising: providing a dispersion having a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, the dispersed phase comprising: polymerisable monomer composition, solid particulate material, non-polymeric porogen; and no polymeric porogen; wherein the polymerisable monomer composition comprises; at least one mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and at least one crosslinking monomer having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups that are separated by at least 4 consecutive acyclic atoms; and polymerising the polymerisable monomer composition in the presence of the non-polymeric porogen and solid particulate material to form the porous polymeric matrix of the beads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer beads comprising a polymeric matrix and having a pitted surface, the polymeric matrix (i) comprising polymerized monomer residues of (a) at least one mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (b) at least one crosslinking monomer having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups separated by at least 4 consecutive acyclic atoms, and (ii) having distributed therethrough solid particulate material and polymeric porogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer beads comprising a polymeric matrix and having a pitted surface, the polymeric matrix (i) comprising polymerised monomer residues of (a) at least one mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (b) at least one crosslinking monomer having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups separated by at least 4 consecutive acyclic atoms, and (ii) having distributed therethrough solid particulate material and polymeric porogen.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing polymer beads incorporating magnetic iron oxide particles, which process comprises producing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed organic phase, the organic phase comprising one or more polymerisable monomers, magnetic iron oxide particles and an organophosphorus dispersing agent for dispersing the magnetic iron oxide particles in the organic phase, and polymerising the one or more polymerisable monomers to form the polymer beads incorporating the magnetic iron oxide particles; complexing and ion exchange resins prepared by this process; methods for separating transition metal ions and other ions from an aqueous solution using the complexing and ion exchange resins; and polymer beads comprising a polymeric matrix having magnetic iron oxide particles and organophosphorus dispersing agent dispersed substantially uniformly therein.