Phase distribution chromatography (PDC) as a method for the investigation of polymers in solution, 4. Deformation concept

Abstract

In a previous paper of the author the assumption was stated that the separation mechanism of phase distribution chromatography (PDC), based on a flow equilibrium (steady state) of the transported polymer between the mobile and the stationary phase of the polystyrene/cyclohexane PDC column, can be explained by means of a deformation of the sorbed polystyrene coils by the velocity gradient along the surface of the stationary phase of the column. In this paper this assumption is tested by means of the theory of rubber elasticity applied to the polystyrene coils sorbed on the surface of the polystyrene gel. The velocity gradient near the surface of the gel is estimated by means of the equations of Hagen-Poiseuille and the deformation of the coil caused by this gradient is calculated from experimental data. The results show that the deformation concept can explain the PDC separation mechanism found from the measurements and published previously.

Separation of linear and star‐shaped polystyrenes by phase distribution chromatography

“…However, temperatures lower than this are used for better separation results, due to the solubility of UHPS and the low resolution near to this region 15. The theoretical background of PDC was extensively investigated and explained by Greschner 16–20 including the thermodynamics of molecular transport, the flow equilibrium and the deformation concept.…”