Highly porous hydrogels based on functionalized glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) have been successfully prepared through the high internal phase oil-in-water emulsions.

Summary: High internal phase emulsions were employed to prepare highly porous (up to 80% pore volume) monoliths of poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylenegycol dimethacrylate) by free radical polymerisations of continuous phases of emulsions. Monoliths with cavities approximately 4 mm in diameter and with interconnecting pores approximately 0.7 mm in diameter were obtained. In order to obtain monoliths with ion exchange groups on the surface of pores for chromatography applications, functionalisations with different amines were performed and various reaction conditions tested. FTIR spectroscopy and nitrogen content analysis were used to monitor the functionalisation processes. Monoliths were succesfully functionalised with 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,4-diaminobuthane, 1,8-diaminooctane and tris(diethylamino)amine.

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The main purpose of this study was to identify understanding of atmospheric pollution phenomena such as acid rain, global warming, ozone layer depletion and photochemical smog among grade 9 lower secondary school students (aged 14 to15), in all Slovenian regions. The research involves the development of a three-tier multiple-choice diagnostic test entitled the Atmospheric Pollution Phenomena Diagnostic Test (APPDiT). APPDiT is a 15-item diagnostic test comprising items for assessing students' understanding and self-confidence of atmospheric pollution problems. The results reveal that the majority of the participants demonstrated a lack of knowledge or misconception about atmosphere pollution since the overall success rate on the APPDiT was 39.6%. In particular, only 36.7%, 5.1%, 42.7% or 19.1% of the students have adequate knowledge regarding understanding of the formation, consequences, and strategies to reduce acid rain, global warming, ozone layer depletion and photochemical smog, respectively. This shows a substantial students' knowledge deficits related to atmosphere pollution at the end of the compulsory education in Slovenia.