Application of gel permeation chromatography to polyelectrolytes: Salt rejection mechanism and molecular-weight distribution

Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of polyelectrolytes in dimethylformamide (DMF) is studied. Three methods of monitoring elution (conductimetry, viscosimetry, refractometry) are used to investigate the molecular-weight distribution and, independently, the chemical composition expressed in terms of the ionic charge density as a function of the chain length in two copolymers of acrylonitrile and sodium methallylsulfonate. The distribution on the gel of the neutral salt NaNO₃ added to the DMF and used for elution is discussed in terms of Donnan exclusion; in addition, it is concluded that to obtain the correct molecular-weight distribution, GPC measurements must be performed with an eluent containing a neutral salt at a concentration at least 5 × 10^?2M to prevent electrostatic exclusion. The main difficulty in reaching rigorous conclusions comes from the dependence of the calibration curve on the salt composition of the eluent owing to interactions—dependent on the quality of the solvent—between the polystyrenes used as standards and the porous silica gel. Nevertheless, this perturbation is small and the agreement between the average molecular weights obtained by GPC and by direct determination is good and indicates that the universal calibration proposed for neutral polymers is also valid for polyelectrolytes.     

The effect of chromatographic conditions on the separation of selected alkaloids in RP-HPTLC

Selected alkaloid standards were chromatographed on C18 W layers using various aqueous eluents containing an organic modifier and pH 3 buffer to suppress silanol ionization or an organic modifier and pH 8 buffer to suppress alkaloid ionization. Anionic ion pairs such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, octane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt, pentane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)ortho-phosphoric acid are used to improve peak shape, efficiency, and selectivity. Amines (e.g., diethylamine, triethylamine, and tetrabutylamonium chloride) are incorporated into mobile phases to block surface silanols. The effect of chromatographic conditions on the separation of the investigated alkaloids is analyzed by the comparison of particular densitograms, asymmetry factor, or theoretical plate number. The best efficiency, peak symmetry, and separation selectivity of the investigated compounds is obtained through the addition of amine (especially diethylamine) to the mobile phases.     

Treating the polyelectrolytes as polymers with a draining effect. II. The behavior in the gel permeation chromatography

The behavior of the polyelectrolytes in the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) can be better understood if the modified universal calibration (log([η]M/Φ) vs. elution volume) is used instead of the “classical” universal calibration (log[η]M vs. elution volume). The value of Flory's parameter Φ is obtained from an equation established for nonionic polymers presenting a draining effect, considering that polyelectrolytes also behave as polymers with a draining effect. The modified universal calibration does not apply as successfully to polyelectrolytes as to nonionic polymers, because of their electrostatic exclusion in the pore surface of the GPC columns. Nevertheless, when polyelectrolytes are found in a high salt concentration solution, the modified universal calibration can be used to obtain their molecular mass, using nonionic hydrosoluble polymers as standard polymers. Moreover, considering polyelectrolytes as polymers presenting a draining effect and applying the modified universal calibration provides a better explanation for the electrostatic exclusion of these polymers from the pores of the GPC columns, using the Dubin–Tecklenburg model. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1106–1113, 2006     

Treating the polyelectrolytes as polymers with a draining effect. I. The statistical segment length

The statistical segment length of polyelectrolytes, A, in aqueous salt solutions is derived from the unperturbed dimensions parameter, K_θ, that is obtained from the graphical representations based on the Stockmayer–Fixman–Burchard and Dondos–Benoît equations. In order to obtain A from K_θ we use values of the Flory's parameter, Φ, which are given from an empirical equation established for the polymers presenting a draining effect, such as the wormlike polymers. With these values of Φ, the obtained values of A for different polyelectrolytes in aqueous salt solutions of different ionic strength are found very close to the values obtained from other more complicated methods. This result shows that the polyelectrolytes can be considered as polymers presenting a draining effect. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4225–4229, 2004     

A model for the Gibbs energy of aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes

A new model for the excess Gibbs energy of aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes is presented and applied for the correlation of the activity of water in aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes without as well as with an added (single) salt. The model considers the phenomenon of counterion condensation, i.e., the partial dissociation of highly charged polyelectrolytes in water. Three parameters (a binary interaction parameter between polymer segments, the equilibrium constant of the dissociation reaction and a parameter which accounts for the polymer configuration) were fitted to the experimental results. The model allows for a reliable correlation of experimental results for the osmotic coefficient of aqueous solutions of a single polyelectrolyte (without as well as with an added salt).     

Hyphenation of aqueous liquid chromatography to pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the comprehensive characterization of water-soluble polymers

A recently developed hyphenated system for "organic" size-exclusion chromatography-pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SEC-Py-GC-MS) is adapted to allow the use of aqueous LC eluents as applied in the characterization of water-soluble polymers. The system uses syringe-based transfer of multiple LC-fractions to the GC instrument with solvent elimination and subsequent pyrolysis in a programmed temperature vaporization injector. The problems of the large-volume injections of aqueous, salt containing eluents into the Py-GC-MS are solved by using a 'sintered-bed liner' for elimination of the water at a high temperature, a volatile salt and the installation of a back-flush option. After optimization, the system was applied for the determination of the combined molecular weight-chemical composition of a polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol block copolymer. This analysis was done with the system in the aqueous SEC-Py-GC-MS mode. Also demonstrated is the automated at-line characterization of a random polystyrene-polymethylmethacrylate copolymer, now with the system in the gradient reversed-phase LC-Py-GC-MS mode. The methods proposed in the present work are very useful for the detailed characterization of water-soluble copolymers.     

X-ray fundamental parameter methods for the determination of some elements in hydrocarbons by WDXRF

Summary X-ray fundamental parameter methods have been applied to the determination of some elements such as Fe, Ca, Zn, Ba and S in solutions of hydrocarbons analysed by means of a wavelength dispersive spectrometer. A comparison is carried out for methods with standards as well as without standards. The influence of different kinds of standards on the results has been investigated. The use of aqueous salt solutions has led to more accurate values than the use of solid standards. The same random errors have been obtained for both kinds of standards. Results obtained without standards are slightly less accurate than those obtained with aqueous standards.     

Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-coated silica: A versatile,polar stationary phase for HPLC

Summary Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) is immobilized on both, small- and large-pore silicas by thermal treatment, γ-radiation, or peroxide initiated polymerization. The hydrolytic stability of such a highly polar stationary phase significantly exceeds that of a comparable phase prepared by the chemical reaction of silica with a pyrrolidone ethyl dimethylchlorosilane silanization reagent. The properties of the different PVP-silicas are evaluated by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and chromatography. Columns of PVP-silica packings can be used in several modes: a) under normal-phase conditions as a polar bonded stationary phase, b) under reversed-phase conditions, for the separation of organic proton-donor and hydrogen-bonding compounds, c) for the aqueous size exclusion chromatography of proteins, and d) with salt gradients for the hydrophobic interaction chromatography of proteins. The minimum observable reduced plate-height of PVP-silica columns is about 3. Double-layer polymer coating experiments using PVP-silica covered with poly(methyloctadecylsiloxane) have been performed to study diffusion and shielding effects of different polymer layers in the stationary phase. Depending on separation conditions, one or the other polymer governs the retention process. A mixed selectivity was observed in a reversed phase mode with acidic eluents.     

Effect of the reaction state on the polymerization of p-xylenesulfonium salts

1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene) sulfonium salts were polymerized under different conditions to yield p-xylylene sulfonium salt polyelectrolytes in a broad range of molecular weights. The aqueous reaction mixture formed a reversible gel at initial monomer concentrations higher than 1.0M, but at lower concentrations it remained as an emulsion until reaction completion. The effect of reaction time on intrinsic viscosities and polymer yields for both the emulsion and the gel state is discussed. The higher yields obtained when the reaction was carried out in the presence of a water-immiscible organic solvent were apparently due to the effect of this solvent on increasing the concentration of the reactive intermediate that led to the polyelectrolyte. Both the addition of an organic solvent and the variation of the initial monomer concentrations allowed some control over the molecular weight of the polyelectrolyte formed.     

Differential size‐exclusion chromatography for the analysis of gelatin–polyelectrolyte complexes

Differential size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) is used to characterize complexes formed between gelatin and two synthetic polyelectrolytes, sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) and sodium poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate). The analysis is performed under aqueous, low‐salt conditions where maximum complexation between gelatin and the polyelectrolytes occurs. The adsorption effects that are commonly encountered in conventional SEC for gelatin and other charged polymers chromatographed under these solution conditions are minimized, because the columns are constantly equilibrated with the analytes in the mobile phase. Analyte solutions of identical composition, but of higher or lower concentration than that contained in the mobile phase, are injected, resulting in positive or negative detector responses, respectively. This method can separate the complexes from individual components, and can be used to determine relative sizes and stoichiometries of the complexes as a function of both the input ratio of gelatin to polyelectrolyte and the molecular weight of the polyelectrolyte. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 275–280, 1999     

Solubilization chromatography : Ketones

The elution of ketones through ion-exchange resins with aqueous solutions of acetic acid or the lower alcohols as eluents has been studied. A mixture of seven ketones, the highest being undecanone-2, was separated by this technique. The elution of ketones with aqueous solutions of a salting-in salt was also studied.     

Comparison of osmotic pressures from EMF measurements,obtained according to cell-model considerations and exact Gibbs-Duhem integrations

Osmotic pressures of aqueous solutions of poly(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) hydrochloride, in equilibrium with a precipitate of the un-ionized polybase, at various concentrations of polymer and NaCl in solution and at different values of pH are derived from emf measurements and the “cell” theory for polyelectrolytes. Single-ion activities are evaluated according to two procedures. The first is based on measurements with ion-specific electrodes versus a calomel electrode. The second makes use of a salt bridge, but assumes that the co-ions have activity coefficients equal to the mean activity coefficient of the salt in a polyelectrolyte-free solution of the same concentration. The results show that the calculated values of the osmotic pressures are consistent with those obtained by the exact integration of the Gibbs-Duhem relationship, when the first procedure is employed. If, however, the single-ion activities are evaluated by the second procedure, the osmotic pressures obtained are consistently lower by about 10%. These differences arise because the two methods yield different values of the activity coefficients of the single ions.     

Peculiarities of the formation of polyacrylamide compound-based polyelectrolyte complexes in the course of the flocculation of clay-salt dispersions

Peculiarities of the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes based on cationic and anionic copolymers of acrylamide having different macromolecule charge densities on the surfaces of kaolin particles in highly concentrated salt solution are investigated. The interactions of the copolymers with the clay particle surface and with each other are studied by electrokinetic and IR spectroscopy methods. The rheological properties of kaolin suspensions are investigated in a salt solution in the presence of the polyelectrolytes. The flocculation ability of the polyelectrolytes and their binary mixtures with respect to clay-salt dispersion is estimated. The mechanism for the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes on the surface of clay particles is discussed. It is shown that the complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on the surfaces of clay particles intensifies the flocculation of clay-salt dispersions.     

Chromatographic behaviour of alkaloids on thin layers of cation exchangers. II. Alginic acid, Rexyn 102, Dowex 50-X4 and CMCNa.

The chromatographic behaviour of 48 alkaloids on cation exchangers with cellulose, paraffin and polystyrene matrices in both the acid and sodium salt forms has been investigated. Water-organic solvent mixtures, aqueous buffer solutions and organic and mineral acid solutions in both water and in aqueous-organic solvents have been used as eluents. The retention mechanisms of these compounds on alginic acid, Rexyn 102 (Hplus) and Dowex 50-X4 (Hplus) thin layers are discussed. Interesting separations of the alkaloids were carried out on alginic acid and Rexyn 102 (Hplus).     

Direct determination of the thermodynamics of polyelectrolyte complexation and implications thereof for electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of multilayer films

Interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) formation between poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) has been studied over a range of ionic strengths by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), turbidity titration, and electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly (ELBL). The results indicate that IPEC formation of PSS/PAH in aqueous solution is predominantly entropy-driven. The thermodynamic parameters suggest the formation of different types of complexes and aggregates due to salt-induced conformational changes in the polyelectrolyte conformation. Differences in polyelectrolyte behavior in the different salt-concentration regimes are described in terms of changes in the Debye screening length of the polyelectrolytes. The relationship of the results to the effect of salt concentration on the assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PEMs) is discussed.     

Determination of molecular parameters of hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl celluloses by chromatography with dual detection

Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) were studied by means of size exclusion chromatography with dual detection, i.e. employing simultaneously a refractive index (concentration sensitive) and a multiangle light scattering (molecular weight sensitive) detectors. The eluent was water and water solutions containing different concentrations of ionic salts. Molecular weight distributions and averages, coefficients of the scaling law of molecular dimensions and unperturbed dimensions were thus obtained from a single polydisperse sample of each polymer. Measurements were performed at 25 degrees C and the anomalous chromatographic behaviour, due to a combination of ion and size exclusion mechanisms, found when using pure water as eluent is transformed into a size exclusion mechanism by the addition of ionic salts. However, the two polymers behave on a different way in presence of salts. Thus, HEC, which is of low degree of substitution (DS), is close to theta conditions in the aqueous salt solutions (i.e. the q exponent of the scaling law has a value close to 0.5), whereas in the case of HPC the addition of salt improves the quality of the solvent up to a value of q around 0.6. Unperturbed dimensions are also calculated for both celluloses.     

Theory of competitive counterion adsorption on flexible polyelectrolytes: divalent salts

The counterion distribution around an isolated flexible polyelectrolyte in the presence of a divalent salt is evaluated using the adsorption model [M. Muthukumar, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 9343 (2004)] that considers the Bjerrum length, salt concentration, and local dielectric heterogeneity as physical variables in the system. Self-consistent calculations of effective charge and size of the polymer show that divalent counterions replace condensed monovalent counterions in competitive adsorption. The theory further predicts that at modest physical conditions for a flexible polyelectrolytes such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate in aqueous solutions polymer charge is compensated and reversed with increasing divalent salt. Consequently, the polyelectrolyte shrinks and reswells. Lower temperatures and higher degrees of dielectric heterogeneity between chain backbone and solvent enhance condensation of all species of ions. Complete diagrams of states for the effective charge calculated as functions of the Coulomb strength and salt concentration suggest that (a) overcharging requires a minimum Coulomb strength and (b) progressively higher presence of salt recharges the polymer due to either electrostatic screening (for low Coulomb strengths) or coion condensation (for high Coulomb strengths). Consideration of ion-bridging by divalent counterions leads to a first-order collapse of polyelectrolytes in modest presence of divalent salts and at higher Coulomb strengths. The authors' theoretical predictions are in agreement with the generic results from experiments and simulations.     

Interactions between hairy rod anionic conjugated polyelectrolytes and nonionic alkyloxyethylene surfactants in aqueous solution: observations from cloud point behaviour

The effect of three anionic, hairy-rod fluorene based conjugated polyelectrolytes on the cloud points of the alkyloxyethylene surfactants C10E3, C12E4, C12E5, and C12E6 has been studied in aqueous solution. Although the association behaviour of these rigid polymers with surfactants is different from that of more flexible polyelectrolytes, both types of polymers are seen to increase the cloud points, probably as a consequence of associative interactions. The possible importance of Coulombic interactions is suggested by the decrease in cloud points with these systems in the presence of NaCl. With the conjugated polyelectrolytes, the effect appears to be most pronounced with poly[9,9-bis(4-phenoxybutylsulfonate)fluorene-co-2,5-thienylene], which may result from specific interactions between oxyethylene groups and the thiophene ring. The value of cloud point behaviour in designing water based formulations for preparation of devices of these conjugated polyelectrolytes is discussed.     

Separation of Sulphonium Salts by Ion Chromatography: Five- and Six-Membered Cyclic Sulphonium Salts

Abstract

Several cyclic 5-and 6-membered sulphonium compounds were separated by ion pair chromatography on a opti-dbb ion pair column. The salts show specific retention behavior when using different mixtures of acetonitrile and aqueous sodium perchlorate solutions as eluents. The increase of retention times with extending chain length of the alkyl group R and with ring size is due to an increase of the solute molecular surface areas which were also calculated. The obtained retention parameters give additional information for structural determination.