Synthesis, Phase-Transition Behaviour, and Oil Adsorption Performance of Porous Poly((ethylene glycol) Alkyl Ether Acrylate) Gels.

To probe the effects of pendant side-chain structures on the properties of porous thermoresponsive polymer gels, (ethylene glycol) alkyl ether acrylates were polymerised in an aqueous medium under radical-mediated phase-separation conditions. The monomer structures varied according to the lengths and termini of their ethylene glycol side chains. The porous poly((ethylene glycol) alkyl ether acrylate) (POEGA) gels exhibited variable lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) but similar and rapid swelling-deswelling behaviours.