Application of factorial experimental design to the study of the suspension polymerization of β‐cyclodextrin and epichlorohydrin

The suspension polymerization of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) with epichlorohydrin (EP) has been studied using a fractionated factorial design with two levels and six variables (β‐CD:EP molar ratio, NaOH concentration, temperature, stirring speed, delay time before paraffin addition, and β‐CD concentration). Different variables, such as the amount of β‐CD in the product, particle size, degree of swelling, and sorption capacity, have been analyzed as the responses for the synthesized polymers. The experimental design approach permitted to select the optimal conditions of synthesis depending on the desired features of the product.