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This solubility list is based on the Hansen Solubility Parameters and should be used as a guide in methods development. The nuances of particle solubility in a given solvent should ultimately be investigated by the experimenter during assay optimization and this guide is not a substitute for bench top evaluation.
Adapted from: Brandrup, J., and E.H. Immergut, eds. 1975. Polymer Handbook, Second Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Other references include:
Hansen, C. M. (2015). Hansen Solubility Parameters: A User’s Handbook, Second Edition (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC press.
Burke J. Solubility Parameters: Theory and Application. AIC Book and Paper Group Annual 1984;3:13
Microparticle Solubility Based on Hansen Solublity Parameters
Solubility (S=Soluble, I=Insoluble)
| Solvent Class | Solvent | Polystyrene | PMMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkanes | n-Butane | I | I |
| Alkanes | n-Pentane | I | I |
| Alkanes | n-Hexane | I | I |
| Alkanes | n-Heptane | I | I |
| Alkanes | n-Octane | S | I |
| Alkanes | Isooctane | I | I |
| Alkanes | n-Dodecane | S | I |
| Alkanes | Cyclohexane | S | I |
| Alkanes | Methylcyclohexane | S | I |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Benzene | S | I |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Toluene | S | S |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Napthalene | S | S |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Styrene | S | I |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | o-Xylene | S | I |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Ethyl benzene | S | I |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | p- Diethyl benzene | S | I |
| Halohydrocarbons | Chloro methane | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | Methylene chloride | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | 1,1 Dichloroethylene | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | Ethylene dichloride | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | Chloroform | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | 1,1 Dichloroethane | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | Trichloroethylene | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | Carbon tetrachloride | S | I |
| Halohydrocarbons | Chlorobenzene | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | o-Dichlorobenzene | S | S |
| Halohydrocarbons | 1,1,2 Trichlorotrifluoroethane | I | I |
| Ethers | Tetrahydrofuran | S | S |
| Ethers | 1,4 Dioxane | S | I |
| Ethers | Diethyl ether | I | I |
| Ethers | Dibenzyl ether | S | S |
| Ketones | Acetone | S | S |
| Ketones | Methyl ethyl ketone | S | S |
| Ketones | Cyclohexanone | S | S |
| Ketones | Diethyl ketone | S | S |
| Ketones | Acetophenone | S | S |
| Ketones | Methyl isobutyl ketone | S | S |
| Ketones | Methyl isoamyl ketone | S | S |
| Ketones | Isophorone | S | S |
| Ketones | Di-(isobutyl) ketone | S | S |
| Esters | Ethylene carbonate | I | I |
| Esters | Methyl acetate | S | S |
| Esters | Ethyl formate | S | S |
| Esters | Propylene 1,2 carbonate | S | S |
| Esters | Ethyl acetate | S | S |
| Esters | Diethyl carbonate | S | S |
| Esters | Diethyl sulfate | I | S |
| Esters | n-Butyl acetate | S | I |
| Esters | Isobutyl acetate | I | I |
| Esters | 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate | S | S |
| Esters | Isoamyl acetate | S | I |
| Esters | Isobutyl isobutyrate | I | I |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Nitromethane | I | I |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Nitroethane | I | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | 2-Nitropropane | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Nitrobenzene | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Ethanolamine | I | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Ethylene diem me | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Pyridine | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Morpholine | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Analine | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Cyclohexylamine | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Quinoline | S | S |
| Nitrogen Compounds | Formamide | I | I |
| Nitrogen Compounds | N,N-Dimethylformamide | S | S |
| Sulfur Compounds | Carbon disulfide | S | I |
| Sulfur Compounds | Dimethylsulphoxide | S | S |
| Sulfur Compounds | Ethanethiol | S | S |
| Alcohols | Methanol | I | I |
| Alcohols | Ethanol | S | S |
| Alcohols | Allyl alcohol | S | S |
| Alcohols | 1-Propanol | S | S |
| Alcohols | 2-Propanol | S | S |
| Alcohols | 1-B utanol | S | S |
| Alcohols | 2-Butanol | S | S |
| Alcohols | Isobutanol | I | I |
| Alcohols | Benzyl alcohol | S | S |
| Alcohols | Cyclohexanol | S | S |
| Alcohols | Diacetone alcohol | S | S |
| Alcohols | Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether | S | S |
| Alcohols | Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether | S | S |
| Alcohols | Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether | S | S |
| Alcohols | Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether | S | S |
| Alcohols | Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether | S | S |
| Alcohols | 1 -Decanol | S | S |
| Acids | Formic acid | I | I |
| Acids | Acetic acid | I | I |
| Acids | Benzoic acid | S | S |
| Acids | Oleic acid | I | I |
| Acids | Stearic acid | S | S |
| Phenols | Phenol | S | S |
| Phenols | Resorcinol | S | S |
| Phenols | m-Cresol | S | S |
| Phenols | Methyl salicylate | S | S |
| Polyhydric Alcohols | Ethylene glycol | S | S |
| Polyhydric Alcohols | Glycerol | S | S |
| Polyhydric Alcohols | Propylene glycol | S | S |
| Polyhydric Alcohols | Diethylene glycol | I | S |
| Polyhydric Alcohols | Triethylene glycol | I | S |
| Polyhydric Alcohols | Dipropylene glycol | I | I |
| Water | Water | I | I |