| abstract |
The present invention is directed to anporous polymer microparticle, in the form of brokennspheres, open to a porous oleophilic interior surfacenarea, having a high oil and water absorbency and annapparent bulk density of about 0.008 to about 0.1ngrams/cc. The preferred method of the present inventionncomprises the steps of:n dissolving at least one, and preferably atnleast two, polyunsaturated monomers along with anneffective amount of an organic polymerization initiatornin a water-immiscible organic solvent to providena monomer mixture; adding the monomer mixture to an aqueousnsolution, preferably having an effective amount of ansuspension stabilizer dissolved therein, to form annorganic/aqueous biphasic liquid system; vigorously agitating the biphasic liquidnsystem at a rate sufficient to cause the water-immisciblenorganic phase to be suspended as microdropletsnin the aqueous phase; continuing vigorous agitating during polymerizationnof the monomers in the suspended microdropletsnto produce a microporous polymer microparticle;nand separating the microporous polymer microparticlenfrom the organic solvent to produce a microporousnand oil sorbent polymer microparticle having anmean unit diameter of less than about 50 microns andna total sorptive capacity for mineral oil that is atnleast about 72% by weight, preferably at least aboutn90% by weight dry polymer basis. |