Methods for making polymer particles in gel form via an emulsion and/or suspension process are provided. The method can include preparing a reactant mixture comprising a carrier fluid and a monomer component containing one or more phenolic compounds and optionally one or more crosslinking compounds, a mixture of Maillard reactants, or a combination thereof. The monomer component can polymerize to form the polymer particles in gel form. The reactant mixture can be located within a reactor having one or more inner surfaces in contact with the reactant mixture during polymerization of the monomer component. The one or more inner surfaces limit a release of metal, metal ions, or a combination thereof into the reactant mixture to produce the polymer particles in gel form containing less than 1 wt% metal atoms, metal ions, or a combination thereof, based on the total weight of the polymer particles in gel form.