Characterisation of cross-linked poly(acryloylmorpholines) as matrices for aqueous gel permeation chromatography

The characterisation of two cross-linked poly(acryloylmorpholines), Enzacry Gel K1 and Enzacryl Gel K2, as matrices for aqueous gel permeation chromatography is described. Near ideal plots of logarithm molecular weight versus distribution coefficient, K_d, are obtained for polyethylene glycols and linear, oligomeric α,ω-diols approximate molecular weight ( _n) fractionation ranges being 0–4000 and 0–20,000 for Enzacryl Gel K1 and Enzacryl Gel K2, respectively. Anomalous retardation of the Schardinger dextrins, cyclomaltohexose and cyclomaltoheptose, is observed although linear maltosaccharides behave normally. The internal gel volumes, calculated from column elution data in water, are significantly larger than the volumes of solvent imbibed by the dry column packings on constituting the gel. Internal gel volumes and solvent imbibition volumes in water are compared with the corresponding values obtained in chloroform and tetrahydrofuran. The two parameters are discussed, in the case of Enzacryl Gel K2 in water and chloroform, in the light of plots of logarithm viscometric hydrodynamic volume versus K_d for polyethylene glycols.     

Characterization of poly(D,L-lactic acid) by gel permeation chromatography

A number of samples of poly(D ,L -lactic acid) (PLA) with weight-average molecular weights M?_w in the range 15,000–350,000 were prepared by a ring-opening polymerization. The molecular weight distributions (MWDs) of these samples were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The method involves a universal calibration of the columns on the basis of polystyrene standards and a rapid iteration algorithm leading to the establishment of the Mark–Houwink relationship. In addition, osmometry and viscometry data are presented. The effect of hydrolytic degradation on the MWD of two PLA samples was studied by GPC.     

Preferential solvation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(methyl methacrylate) in benzene-methanol mixtures by gel permeation chromatography

Preferential solvation λ parameters for the ternary systems benzene-methanol-poly(dimethylsiloxane) and benzene-methanol-poly(methyl methacrylate) have been determined by gel permeation chromatography. When benzene is preferentially adsorbed by the polymer, good agreement is found between λ values determined by this method and by light scattering and dialysis equilibrium. However, when methanol is preferentially adsorbed by the polymer, discrepancies arise. The differences are discussed in terms of interactions between the solvent and the chromatographic support.     

Synthesis and evaluation of poly(oxyethylene glycol) polymer (POP) supports

Mono- and alpha,omega-bis-styryl-oligo(oxyethylene glycol) ethers have been constructed in an efficient two-step synthesis. From these precursors, poly(oxyethylene glycol) polymer (POP) supports of varying monomer and cross-linker composition have been produced. The swelling properties and mass-solvent uptake of these novel materials have been evaluated in a variety of solvents, demonstrating that POP supports exhibit enhanced solvent compatibilities over the commercial resins TENTA-GEL, ARGO-GEL, and Merrifield's resin. The utility of POP supports in solid-phase organic chemistry has also been demonstrated successfully. It is anticipated that these high-loading polymeric supports will have generic application in the solid-phase synthesis of combinatorial libraries and the in situ screening of these libraries in the aqueous environment of a bioassay.     

Calibration procedure for gel permeation chromatography

A novel procedure is presented for calibrating a gel permeation chromatograph by using broad polymer fractions. The limit in accuracy is set by the accuracy of number-average and weight-average molecular weight measurements and the reproducibility of the chromatograph. In the particular calibration for linear polyethylene described here, low molecular weight fractions were prepared by nitric acid oxidation of annealed single crystals. The calibration is then of particular value in morphological studies of polyethylene. The influence in the calibration of polar endgroups on the polymer, as produced in these oxidized samples is discussed.     

Gel permeation chromatography of poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-ethylene isophthalate)

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the copolyesters obtained by copolycondensation of ethylene glycol with dimethyl terephthalate and dimethyl isophthalate were fractionated by coacervate extraction and gel permeation chromatography. The results established the influence of chemical inhomogeneity of chains on the separation process.     

Characterization of polyethylene terephthalate by gel permeation chromatography (GPC)

The use of the solvent mixture chloroform/hexafluoroisopropanol (98 : 2 vol %) in the GPC-analysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is described. PET-samples of different molecular weight have been prepared and characterized by light scattering, viscometry, and improved techniques of osmometry and end group titration. These well characterized samples were used in calibrating the GPC. The calibration with polydisperse standards was found superior to the universal calibration procedure in the solvent system chosen.     

System development for aqueous gel permeation chromatography

To devise an improved gel permeation chromatography system for the analysis of macromolecules, with a strongly alkaline solution as eluent, three Fractogel TSK gels were investigated. Because primary standards are usually unavailable, calibration was achieved by using Benoit's universal procedure and polystyrene sulfonates, polyethylene glycols, and dextrans as secondary calibrants. Continuous monitoring of intrinsic viscosity resulted from coupling a viscodetector with a classical differential refractometer. It was found that column efficiency and fractionation range could be extended well beyond those of previously studied systems on a reasonably short period of analysis.     

Calibration of gel permeation chromatography system for polycarbonate

A combination of the universal calibration method, with direct calibration with several oligomers of known molecular weight, gave excellent results in the determination of the average molecular weights and molecular weight distribution for bisphenol A type polycarbonate.     

Flow-rate dependence of gel permeation chromatography

Analysis of polystyrene standards by gel permeation chromatography over a wide range of flow rates revealed two sources of error in volume measurement. These errors arise from solvent evaporation in the siphon chamber and from solvent continuing to flow into the siphon during discharge. Appropriate corrections are discussed, and a vapor feedback loop to eliminate the solvent evaporation error is described. The flow rate dependence of the GPC calibration curve, expressed in the corrected elution volumes, appears different from that reported in the literature. The corrected flow rate dependence of peak elution volumes is in agreement with the expectation of diffusion and exclusion theories.     

Novel use of cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel for organic reactions in aqueous media

A poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) gel cross-linked with quaternized aminoalkyls was designed. A novel recyclable system based on the external solvent-responsive oil-absorption/elution transition ability of the PNIPAAm gel matrix was then developed.     

Molecular weight distributions of industrially-produced poly-(epsilon-caprolactams) by gel permeation chromatography

Gel permeation chromatography with differential refractometry is used to obtain molecular weight distributions (MWD) of poly-(epsilon-caprolactams). Elution is carried out using an m-cresolchlorobenzene mixture (50:50, v/v) at 50 degrees C. MW values are obtained by a Hamielec-based calibration method, using broad-MWD poly-(epsilon-caprolactam) standards with the same chemical nature and similar MWD to the samples. Relative errors for the number-average MW (Mn) using this calibration method range from 0.4% (in the low polyamide MW range) to 20% (in the high polyamide MW range). These values are much lower than those obtained from narrow-MWD polystyrene calibration, which range from 39% to 78%. Similar values have been obtained for the other usual average MW parameters. The ability to obtain repeatability parameters for a given confidence interval and the utilization of statistical criteria for chromatogram rejection allow this method to be used in quality control for MWD of poly-(epsilon-caprolactams). Thus, production variables are related to polyamide-6 behavior in its ulterior treatment. Typical relative standard deviation percentages (for n=6) of a polyamide sample range from 1.9% (for Mn) to 3.3% (for M(z+1)).