SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY ON POLYHYDROXYMETHACRYLATE GEL WITH DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE AS ELUENT

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) in dimethylformamide (DMF) on poly hydroxymethacrylate (PHMA) gel has been compared with SEC on polystyre ne-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) gel. Comparison of the molecular mass calib ration curves on the two gels at similar size-exclusion limits shows t hat the calibration curves on PHMA, particularly for low size-exclusio n limits (<2 . 10(5)), have wider effective molecular mass ranges than those on PS-DVB. This leads to better separation of low-molecular-mas s polymer peaks from system peaks on PHMA and also better resolution o f oligomer peaks. Hydrophobic polymers, such as polystyrene standards and polydimethylaminostyrene, were eluted by size-exclusion chromatogr aphy on PS-DVB due to hydrophobic not interaction: they were, though, eluted satisfactorily on PHMA.