1. Foundation GPC Part 5 – Polar and Aqueous Gel Permeation Chromatography Columns and Applications

2. Introduction
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!

3. 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
Polymer Laboratories have one range of GPC column for aqueous solvents and one for any type of solvent
The properties of each range that must be considered when selecting them for an application shall be presented

4. 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

5. PL Aquagel-OH Columns

7. Typical Calibrants
Polyethylene glycol and oxide standards are chemically identical except for the end group
These are common polymer standards for aqueous GPC

8. For biological polymers such as starches and other polysaccharides, pullulans provide a more realistic result

9. Biopolymers Analysis A thickening agent found in foodstuffs
The MIXED bed column is most suitable to this kind of broad polydispersity sample

10. A blood thickening agent, heparin is fairly low in molecular weight
For these types of samples the individual pore size columns are most suited

11. High Molecular Weight Analysis
High molecular weight samples are best analysed on individual pore size columns
The large particle size reduces the potential for shear degradation

13. Analysis of Hydrophobic Polymers
Hydrophobic samples will interact in pure water
Methanol is added to the eluent to inhibit interactions

14. Analysis of Cationic Polymers
Cationic polymers require reduced pH to run
System imbalance peaks result from preparing the samples in a strong acid

15. Analysis of Hydrophobic, Anionic Polymers
These standards are anionic and hydrophobic
An increased pH and methanol are required for the analysis
WWater soluble polymers with a UV chromophore

16. PolarGel Columns

17. PolarGel Columns

18. PolarGel-M Calibrations

19. Peak Shapes of Polar Compounds

20. Analysis of Polar Samples
These materials can interact with PS/DVB columns
The more polar surface of PolarGel is well suited to this application

21. Analysis in Unusual Solvents
Acetone cannot be used for GPC with PS/DVB, the samples do not elute properly
The more polar surface of the PolarGel column allows GPC to be performed