Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of producing a composite particle. The method comprises contacting a catalyst particle, an oxidant and a plurality of monomers. The oxidant is a peroxide, a persulfate or ozone, and the catalyst particle is or comprises a material which possesses Fenton or Fenton-like catalytic activity. The catalyst particle catalyses the disproportionation of the oxidant to create an oxygen-radical species, which then initiates a polymerisation reaction and thereby causes the plurality of monomers to polymerise, and thereby form a polymeric shell around the catalyst particle. The invention extends to composite particles produced by the method, apparatuses comprising the composite particles and uses thereof.

Abstract: Soluble or colloidal nanoparticles of molecularly imprinted polymer are produced reliably and consistently in a photoreactor with a reaction vessel (18) containing a solid phase (14) bearing immobilised template. Parameters such as temperature, fluid flows and irradiation time are controlled by a computer (52).