Influence of Pore Size and Pore Size Distribution of Polymer-Based Packing Materials on Chromatographic Separation of Carbon Clusters

Abstract Size monodispersed poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) particles with a variety of pore size and pore size distribution were prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method and utilized as packing materials in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As an application of these packing materials, separation of carbon clusters C60 and C70 were examined in a mixture of hexane and benzene and an influence of the pore size and the pore size distribution of the polymer-based packing materials on the separation was investigated. Although carbon clusters are sterically bulky molecules, packing materials with smaller pores showed better separation than those with larger pores. Completely separated peaks and the good peak shape suggest possible isolation of carbon clusters on relatively cheap polymer-based packing materials.