COMPETITIVE DIFFUSION-ADSORPTION OF POLYMERS OF DIFFERING CHAIN LENGTHS ON SOLID-SURFACES

The process of competitive diffusion-adsorption of polymers of differi ng chain lengths in porous and non-porous adsorbents is modelled mathe matically. The dynamic events are shown to be dictated by several comp eting factors linked to diffusion, adsorption, disengagement, etc. A s triking observation of an intermediate plateau before the final equili brium in the adsorption curve is attained, is predicted by the model a nd validated with some very recent experimental data. Some important i mplications of the work on development of process for polymer fraction ation on the basis of differential adsorption based on difference in c hain lengths is discussed.