GPC Consumables An Overview of Organic and Aqueous GPC ... · aqueous GPC • Different...
Transcript of GPC Consumables An Overview of Organic and Aqueous GPC ... · aqueous GPC • Different...
Agilent Technologies Total GPC Solution
• GPC Columns
– GPC Standards
• GPC Instrumentation
– GPC Software
• GPC Expertise
GPC/SEC Consumables
• GPC/SEC consumables based on
GPC products originally from Polymer
Laboratories, who were acquired by
Varian, Inc.
• These can be split into two areas
• First area is columns for liquid
chromatography containing mainly
polymer-based packing materials
(PS/DVB, coated materials, some other
co-polymers)
• Second business area are well-
characterised polymer standards for use
in GPC/SEC calibration procedures
Standards
17%
Organic
Cols
72%
Aqueous
Cols
11%
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Synthesis of Porous Particles
High cross-link content
gives a rigid, low swelling
product with a well-
defined pore structure
• The column products can be divided into two application areas – organic GPC
and aqueous SEC
• PolarGel is a cross-over
Organic GPC
PLgel, PlusPore, Olexis
Aqueous SEC
PL aquagel-OH
Copolymers of styrene
and divinyl benzene Coated or now copolymerised
–OH functionalised materials
Column Ranges
----PolarGel----
Differentiation of Columns Products
• Like other LC columns, GPC/SEC columns are differentiated by particle
chemistry, pore size and particle size
• PS/DVB is used for organic solvents,
• Hydrophilic copolymers are used for aqueous compatible columns
• Pore size is carefully controlled to determine the resolving range of the column
– what range of polymer molecular weights can be separated by the column
• But the wider the resolving range of the column, the lower the resolution
• Products range from 50Å to 10E6Å (resolving range of the product line up to
100,000,000 g/mol)
• Particle size reflects the resolving range – large molecule samples need large
particle size column to stop shear degradation of samples on-column
• Particle size of product range from 3μm to 20μm
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Column Types
• The factor that principally controls which type of column is selected for a GPC
experiment is the solvent
• Many polymer dissolve in only very limited numbers of solvents
• The columns used must be compatible with the solvent of choice
• Most importantly, the size exclusion mechanism must be maintained
• Agilent have two main ranges of GPC column for organic solvents
• The properties of each range that must be considered when selecting them
for an application shall be presented
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Organic GPC
• The vast majority of commercially important polymers are only soluble in
organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, toluene or trichlorobenzene
• For these applications a column packed with material compatible with these
solvents must be chosen
• Almost universally columns packed with insoluble porous beads of
polystyrene cross-linked with divinyl benzene are used (PS/DVB)
• The majority of manufactures use columns of this type
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PLgel solvent Compatibility
• Columns can be used in a
wide range of solvents
• Transfer between solvents
is possible assuming care is
taken
• The column user guide
details the procedure
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PLgel Column Range
• The extensive range of
products has variation in pore
size, particle size and column
dimensions
• The packing materials are
identical in terms of surface
chemistry
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Individual Pore Size Combination Versus
MIXED Gel Columns - Polydisperse Sample
Eluent THF
Flow rate 1.0 ml/min
Detector UV 254nm
SMALL
MOLECULES
ULTRA-HIGH MW
POLYMERS
Organic GPC separations Across the Molecular weight Range
High MW polyethylene
Columns : 3 x PLgel 10um MIXED-B
Eluent : TCB + 0.0125% BHT
C12 to C36 hydrocarbons
Columns : 2 x PLgel 3µm 100Å
Eluent : THF
PLgel – Application Across the Molecular Weight
Range
Organic GPC separations across the solvent polarity range
NON-
POLAR POLAR
Polylactic acid analysis
Columns : 2 x PLgel 5um MIXED-D
Eluent : Chloroform
Starch analysis
Columns : 4 x PLgel 20µm MIXED-A
Eluent : DMSO + 5mM NaNO3
PLgel – Application Across the Polarity Range
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Special Case – Polyolefin Analysis
Requirements:
High mechanical stability, high temperature operation
Increased molecular weight resolving range to 100,000,000 g/mol
Larger particle size than 10µm to ensure no shear degradation
Smaller particle size than 20µm to ensure good efficiency
• Often, it is the inlet frit that
causes shearing
• PLgel Olexis columns have a
narrow particle size
distribution and so can employ
larger frits, reducing the
possibility of shearing
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• Maximum resolution with minimum shear degradation
• The packing material is the same as the PL ‘LS’ product line, and so is
especially suited for light scattering applications
PLgel Olexis Columns
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Comparative Preparative Separations
• Preparative columns give
identical chromatography to
analytical columns under the
right conditions
• Method development can
be performed on the
analytical columns, reducing
the risk of damage to
expensive preparative
columns
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Polar and Aqueous SEC Columns
• There are a wide variety of columns available for polar and aqueous GPC
• This presentation shall introduce the most common types of column
• This information can act as a reference
• Applications on the various columns shall also be discussed
• We have performed many applications on our columns, so even if your
application is not shown here, we’ve probably done it!
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Aqueous GPC
• A growing number of polymers are water soluble
• Interest in recycling, renewable resources and biomedical applications has led
to increased interest in this area
• There are lots of different chemistries of packing materials employed for
aqueous GPC
• Different manufacturers use different column types
• Columns are available as individual or MIXED type and in a range of pore,
particle and column dimensions, just like the organic GPC columns
• We shall also discuss a new packing material that can be used in organic and
aqueous solvents
• High purity
• Very narrow polydispersity
• Extremely well characterised
Most commonly used polymer calibrants
Polystyrene - THF, toluene, chloroform, TCB
Polymethyl methacrylate - MEK, ethyl acetate, acetone,
DMF
Polyethylene oxide/glycol - aqueous eluents, DMF, DMSO
Calibration Standards for Conventional GPC
Narrow standards
Polystyrene
PMMA
PEG/PEO
Polysaccharide
Polyacrylic Acid
Polyethylene
GPC Calibrants in different polymers
EasiCal pre-prepared calibrants for GPC/SEC
EasiCal PS-1 separation on
3 x PLgel 10µm MIXED-B
Spatula A Spatula B
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EasiVial pre-weighed standards for GPC/SEC
Vial Mp Mass (mg)
RED 6,035,000 0.8
483,000 1.6
19,720 2.4
1,260 3.2
YELLOW 3,053,000 0.8
184,900 1.6
8,450 2.4
580 3.2
GREEN 915,000 0.8
60,450 1.6
3,370 2.4
162 3.2
Mn - number average molecular weight
Mw - weight average molecular weight
Mv - viscosity average molecular weight
Mp - peak molecular weight by GPC
For GPC calibration Mp must be used
Characterisation of Narrow Polydispersity
Polymer Standards
CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS
Polystyrene Batch Number 20132-4 Mp 30,300
GPC Light scattering Viscometry
Mp (g/mol) 30,300
Mn (g/mol) 29,800
Mw (g/mol) 30,150 30,400
Mv (g/mol) 30,100 29,630
Mw/Mn =1.02 rg = 2.9 nm [ ] = 0.1795
Mp, Mn, Mw & Mv are the respective peak, number, weight and viscosity molecular weight averages
Mw/Mn = molecular weight distribution or polydispersity ratio
rg = radius of gyration [ ] = Intrinsic viscosity
Full details of analytical conditions are described overleaf
The above characterisation data has been measured according to
Polymer Laboratories Quality Assurance procedures
N.W.Titley P.J.Scott
Quality Assurance Dept.QCFQ120
Issue 02 08/03/99
Gel Permeation Chromatography Light Scattering
Viscometry
Summary
table
MWD from
GPC
Light
scattering
(Zimm plot)
Dilute
solution
viscometry
Batch
number for
traceability
Assigned
Mp