New chromatographic separation systems for polyolefins - theoretical simulations and experimental realization

• Applicant: Dr. Tibor Macko
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2008 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 49926176

Polyolefins are the most widely produced synthetic polymer commodity worldwide. They have distributions in molar mass, chemical composition, functionality and/or chain architectures. Detailed molecular characterization of polyolefin samples requires determination of these distributions. Chromatographic based methods enjoy the robustness, efficiency, and most of all capability of separation of different species in sample mixtures. While sensitive liquid chromatography modes have been realized for many polymers, only high temperature SEC is currently available for polyolefins. Determination of molar mass distributions of polyolefins can be obtained with high temperature SEC, but chromatographic separations according to their chemical composition and chain architectures have not been realized (except few examples from German Institute for Polymers in Darmstadt). This collaborative research project aims to develop adsorption and precipitation based LC modes for polyolefins, thereby enabling chromatographic based separation according to chemical composition and/or chain architectures. Experimental part of this project will seek for solvent/sorbent systems that enable adsorption or precipitation of polyolefin in LC columns. Computer simulations will investigate chromatographic elution behavior of linear and branched macromolecules and will forecast what might be expected in adsorption/precipitation based LC modes. Such chromatographic separation methods are especially desirable for high-throughput synthesis and analysis of polyolefin materials.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Yongmei Wang