New evaporative light scattering detector for high temperature gel permeation chromatography

A new evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) for the analysis of polyolefins by high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was recently introduced by Agilent Technologies. For the first time, we investigated the possibility to use this detector to measure the molecular weight distributions (MWD) of different type of polyolefines (polypropylene, linear, and low-density polyethylene). These samples were previously characterized by GPC with a differential refractive index (DRI) detector by several companies, in an interlaboratory study conducted by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.^[1 Luruli, N. 2010. PHASE 1: IUPAC SEC/GPC Round Robin Project Report: Repeatability and Reproducibility of Sample Preparation and Analysis in High-Temperature SEC, http://media.iupac.org/projects/2005/2005-011-3-400_rpt-phase1_110510.pdf [Google Scholar]^] The excellent baseline stability of ELSD as compared with DRI was reflected in a better reproducibility of the measured average molecular weights. More importantly, after applying required corrections to linearize the response of the ELSD as a function of concentration, we obtained similar results as previously obtained with DRI for the MWD of analyzed resins, covering typical applications of polyolefins.     

Analysis of organic pollutants in water at trace levels using fully automated solid-phase extraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A method has been developed for the determination of trace levels of 32 pesticides, 19 explosives and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in water in three individual steps. Solid-phase enrichment (SPE) is coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fully automated system. The organic pollutants are enriched on reusable cartridges packed with adsorbent materials: pesticides and explosives on a mixed bed of divinylbenzene-ethylvinylbenzene copolymers (LiChrolut EN^?) and perfluorinated polyethylene (PolyF^?), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on C₁₈-modified silica (Zorbax^? ODS1). Thermally assisted desorption (TAD) has been shown to increase the recovery of analytes significantly. As all enriched analytes are transferred to the detector, only fifty millilitres of sample is needed for each single on-line analysis, compared with at least a litre for conventional methods. The separation of the enriched organic analytes is performed on specialized HPLC columns based on reversed-phase materials. The limits of detection of the system employed were found to be below 100 ng L⁻¹. Use of fluorescence detection for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons resulted in limits of detection in the upper pg L⁻¹ range. Thek values, number of theoretical plates, the recovery rates and the limits of detection of this method for fast screening of organic pollutants from three fifty-millilitre aqueous samples are described. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

Buffering effects on the solution behavior and hydrolytic degradation of poly(β-amino ester)s

With a vast, synthetically accessible compositional space and highly tunable hydrolysis rates, poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs) are an attractive degradable polymer platform. Leveraging PBAEs in a wide range of applications hinges on the ability to program degradation, which, thus far, has been frustrated by multiple confounding phenomena contributing to the degradation of these charged polyesters. Basic conditions accelerate hydrolysis, yet reduce solubility, limiting water access to amines and esters. Further, the high buffering capacity of PBAEs can render buffers ineffective at controlling solution pH. To unify understanding of PBAE degradation and solution properties, this study examines PBAE hydrolysis as a function of pH and buffer concentration as well as polymer hydrophobicity. At low buffer concentrations, the PBAE amines and the acid produced during hydrolysis control solution pH. Meanwhile, at high buffer concentrations that afford relatively constant pH, hydrolysis rate increases with pH, despite the reduced PBAE solubility. Increasing the hydrophobic content of PBAEs eventually hinders the capacity of the polymer to accept protons from solution, limiting the pH increase and slowing hydrolysis. These studies showcase the role of buffering on the pH-dependent degradation and solution properties of PBAEs, providing guidance for programming degradation in applications ranging from drug delivery to thermosets.     

PP/LDPE共混体系的辐射效应

研究了在多官能团单体—三烯丙基异氰脲酸酯存在下ＰＰ／ＬＤＰＥ共混体系接受γ－辐射的效果。用溶解度参数和ＴＥＭ技术评估了共混体系的相容性与多官能团单体在共混体系中的分布，并用ＳＥＭ、ＤＳＣ、动态力学等方法对共混体系相容性进行了表征。结果表明，ＰＰ／ＬＤＰＥ是不相容的共混体系，三烯丙基异氰脲酸酯主要分布在共混体系的相界面区域，辐照强化了共混体系的相间结合，增加了界面厚度，改善了共混体系的相容性。     

固体酸催化剂对LDPE与PS混合物催化裂解行为的研究

研究ZSM—G5和USY,及新型改性催化剂DeLaZSM-5对LDPE与PS混合聚烯烃的催化裂解行为,与热裂解相比,ZSM-5与DeLaZSM-5使裂解速率增加、残渣收率降低、产品分布变窄,而USY使裂解活性降低,其中De-LaZSM-5对LDPE／PS混合物具有最高的催化裂解活性。     

Morphology and tensile properties of glass bead filled low density polyethylene composites: MATERIAL PROPERTIES

The mechanical properties of glass bead filled low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites in tension have been investigated by using an Instron material testing machine. It is found that with increase of the glass bead weight fraction (φ) the tensile modulus (E_c) and the tensile yield stress (σ_yc) increase as a form of nonlinear function but contrary to the elongation strain at break; the correlation between E_c and φ accords with the logarithmic mixing rule and the relationship between σ_y and the volume fraction (φ_f) can be described by means of a second order equation; the effects of the glass bead diameter on the mechanical properties are not large; when φ and the bead size are suitable, the enhanced toughness effect of the filled-systems is more significant; the tensile strength of the glass bead filled system pretreated with a coupling agent are somewhat greater than those of the untreated system. In addition, the morphology of the samples is studied to explain the relationship between the micro-structure and the mechanical properties of the composites.     

Copolymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate with Alkyl Methacrylates. Part IV. Mechanical Properties and Biocompatibility

Mechanical properties of copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and n-butyl methacrylate have been investigated using an Instron tensile tester. It was observed that the overall mechanical properties decrease as the ester alkyl group of alkyl methacrylate becomes bulkier. Biocompatibility of the copolymers was also investigated by implanting them subcutaneously in rats.     

Tuning the Properties of Ester-Based Degradable Polymers by Inserting Epoxides into Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)

A series of ester-ether copolymers were obtained via the reaction between α,ω-dihydroxyl poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) and ethylene oxide (EO) or monosubstituted epoxides catalyzed by strong phosphazene bases. The two types of monomeric units were distributed in highly random manners due to the concurrence of epoxide ring-opening and fast transesterification reactions. The substituent of epoxide showed an interesting bidirectional effect on the enzymatic degradability of the copolymer. Compared with PCL, copolymers derived from EO exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity and decreased crystallinity which then resulted in higher degradability. For the copolymers derived from propylene oxide and 1,2-butylene oxide, the hydrophobic alkyl pendant groups also allowed lower crystallinity of the copolymers thus higher degradation rates. However, further enlarging the pendant groups by using styrene oxide or 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether caused a decrease in the degradation rate, which might be ascribed to the higher bulkiness hindering the contact of ester groups with lipase.