Novel behavior of the chromatographic separation of linear and cyclic polymers

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry Vol. 408; no. 3; pp. 677 - 681
• Main Authors: Montenegro-Burke, J. Rafael, Bennett, Jackson M, McLean, John A, Hercules, David M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.01.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetonitrile; Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Biofilms; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; chemical composition; Chemical properties; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromatography; Chromatography, Gel - methods; Elution; Food Science; Fractionation; Gas flow; Gel permeation chromatography; Identification and classification; Laboratory Medicine; Mass Spectrometry; Mathematical analysis; Methods; Molecular Structure; Molecular weight; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Observations; Oligomers; Physical properties; Polyester resins; Polyesters; Polyesters - chemistry; Polymerization; Polymers; Polyurethane resins; polyurethanes; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Rapid Communication; Scientific imaging; Separation; United States > US; Nashville Tennessee; Montenegro; Cyclic and linear polymers; Polyesters; Size-exclusion chromatography; Electrospray mass spectrometry; Polyurethanes
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-9198-9

In various polymerization processes, the formation of a wide variety of chains, not only in length but also in chemical composition, broadly complicates comprehensive polymer characterization. In this communication, we compare different stationary and mobile phases for the analysis of complex polymer mixtures via size-exclusion chromatography-mass spectrometry (SEC-MS). To the best of our knowledge, we report novel chromatographic effects for the separation of linear and cyclic oligomers for polyesters (PE) and polyurethanes (PUR). A complete separation for the different structures was achieved for both polymer types with a single-solvent system (acetonitrile, ACN) and without extensive optimization. Additionally, cyclic species were found to show an inverse elution profile compared to their linear counterparts, suggesting distinct physical properties between species. Graphical abstract Novel chromatographic separation of cyclic and linear polymers.