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Foundation GPC Training Course Theory. Nomenclature. G el P ermeation C hromatography GPC S ize E xclusion C hromatography SEC G el F iltration C hromatography GFC. Types of Liquid Chromatography. Interactive adsorption, partition, ion exchange, etc Non-interactive GPC, SEC, GFC.
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Nomenclature Gel Permeation Chromatography GPC Size Exclusion Chromatography SEC Gel Filtration Chromatography GFC
Types of Liquid Chromatography Interactive adsorption, partition, ion exchange, etc Non-interactive GPC, SEC, GFC
Why do GPC ? MWD determined by GPC • GPC is the only technique for characterising polymer molecular weight distribution • As Mw/Mn decreases the strength and toughness of the polymer increases • However as Mw/Mn decreases the polymer becomes more difficult to process • GPC provides key information to predict the processability and material properties of a polymer
GPC Separation Mechanism • Polymer is prepared as a dilute solution in the eluent and injected into the system • The GPC column is packed with porous beads of controlled porosity and particle size • Large molecules are not able to permeate all of the pores and have a shorter residence time in the column • Small molecules permeate deep into the porous matrix and have a long residence time in the column • Polymer molecules are separated according to molecular size, eluting largest first, smallest last
GPC Column Technology • Columns are packed with porous particles, controlled pore size and particle size • Columns are produced by slurry packing technique, packed at pressures in excess of 2000psi • Column dimensions typically 7-8mm i.d., 250-600mm in length
Synthesis of Porous Particles • High cross-link content gives a rigid, low swelling product with a well-defined pore structure
Elution Profile – Nomenclature Exclusion volume (Vo) - Upper MW limit (also known as void volume) Total permeation volume (Vt) – Lower MW limit Pore volume (Vp) – Working resolving range of MW Vp = Vt - Vo
Plate Counts • A measure of the efficiency of a chromatographic system is the plate count • Column is divided into a number of theoretical plates • Plates are defined as the smallest cross-sectional slice in which the mobile and stationary phases are in equilibrium • The smaller the width (known as height) of the plate, the quicker the system comes to equilibrium and the greater the efficiency • Plate counts controlled by the Van Deemter relationship
Determination of Column Performance tR = retention time W½ = peak width at 50% peak height W5s =peak width at 4.4% peak height L = column length in meters Efficiency (½ height) N=5.54(tR/W)2 L Plate count efficiency (5s) N=25(tR/W5s)2 L Symmetry =W1/W2
Resolution in GPC • Resolution Rs = 2(V1-V2) (W1+W2) • Specific Resolution per Molecular Weight Decade Rsp = 0.25s D • Elution Volumes of peaks 1 and 2 are V1 and V2 • Peak Widths of peaks 1 and 2 are W1 and W2