High Speed GPC Analysis by Nexera™ GPC System: Calculation of Molecular Weight and Quantitative Analysis of Additives

Introduction

Measurement of the molecular weight distribution of polymers is one field of HPLC utilizing the size exclusion mode and has been called GPC (gel permeation chromatography) for a long time. Recent requirements for increased throughput by high speed analysis are also considered as a priority in GPC, which is an established analytical technique. In this article, a high speed GPC analysis was carried out using a GPC system consisting of a high speed GPC column packed with smaller particles and a Nexera XR UHPLC system that absolutely minimizes external column dispersion to verify its performance. In addition, this article also introduces a simultaneous determination of low molecular weight polymer additives within a high speed GPC analysis using an additional PDA (photodiode array) detector and a deconvolution function provided in the LabSolutions™ workstation to show an improved efficiency of GPC analysis, whereas ordinary quantitative analysis of these additives is carried out by HPLC separation mode other than GPC such as reversed phase mode after fractionation by preparative LC that requires a long time and tedious procedures.

July 2, 2020 GMT