Effects of concentration, relative permittivity, and temperature on the solution behavior of sodium carboxymethylcellulose as probed by electrical conductivity

Precise measurements on the electrical conductivity of solutions of sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose in acetonitrile/water mixed-solvent media containing 10, 20, and 40 vol % of acetonitrile are reported as a function of temperature. The degree of substitution of carboxymethylcellulose used was 0.70, and the concentrations were varied from approximately 1 x 10(-4) to approximately 1 x 10(-2) equiv L(-1). The results showed a decrease in the equivalent conductivity with increasing polyelectrolyte concentration. The applicability of Manning's theory for salt-free polyelectrolyte solutions was examined, and a major discrepancy against the theory was observed. The calculated values of the equivalent conductivity deduced on the basis of this theory were found to be higher than the experimental ones. Possible reasons for this discrepancy have been discussed. The fractions of uncondensed counterions were evaluated, and these were found to depend on the polyelectrolyte concentration. The effects of the temperature and relative permittivity of the medium on the equivalent conductivity as well as on the fraction of uncondensed counterions were also investigated.