Polymeric adsorbents are highly porous spherical beads based on crosslinked macroreticular polystyrene, aliphatic polymers or phenol-formaldehyde condensates. Unlike ion exchange resins, they capture molecules by hydrophobic and polar interaction rather than by charge.
Polystyrenic adsorbents are more selective towards non-polar compounds, and their pore size is tightly controlled to sharpen that selectivity. Controlled variation of surface area and pore volume gives each grade distinct advantages for a given application. Polyacrylic adsorbents are designed to remove hydrophilic organic compounds from less polar solvents.
Typical duties include recovery of antibiotics and enzymes from fermentation broth, decolourisation of process streams, removal of phenolic compounds, and capture of volatile organic compounds from vent gas.