Tunable Aqueous Polymer Phase Impregnated Resins: A Combination of the Extractant Impregnated Resin Principle and Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Abstract

This scientific note introduces a concept supposed to enhance aqueous two-phase extraction by immobilizing one of the two phases of an aqueous two-phase system in porous particles. This approach, developed by the author, is based on solvent impregnated resins. The resulting so-called (tunable) aqueous polymer phase impregnated resins might avoid drawbacks of aqueous two-phase extraction, such as long phase separation times due to persistent emulsification. Due to the novelty of the idea and resulting current lack of fundamental studies, the idea is put up to discussion in order to initiate scientific exchange and hopefully widespread investigation of its true potential.

Keywords:

• aqueous polymer phase impregnated resins
• aqueous two-phase extraction
• solvent impregnated resins