ARS | Publication request: Caveats when Analyzing Ultra-high Molar Mass Polymers by SEC

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 5, 2010
Publication Date: March 5, 2010
Citation: Striegel, A.M., Isenberg, S.L., Cote, G.L. 2010. Caveats when analyzing ultra-high molar mass polymers by SEC [abstract]. Pittsburgh Conference. 520-6.

Technical Abstract: The analysis of ultra-high molar mass (M > 1 million g/mol) polymers via size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) presents a number of non-trivial challenges. Dissolution and full solvation may take days, as is the case for cellulose dissolution in non-complexing non degrading solvents; very low concentrations must usually be employed, in order to operate below c*, the critical overlap concentration, resulting in low concentration detector signal-to-noise ratios; and degradation of the analytes during their passage through the packed chromatographic medium occurs with relative ease. Here, we use the power of multi-detector SEC to focus on the latter phenomenon, showing differences between the type of degradation that occurs in the interstitial medium vis-à-vis the pore boundary, on the types of flows responsible for on-column degradation, and on the differences between actual versus perceived degradation.