THE THERMODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONFORMATIONAL TRANSITIONS OF NATIVE XANTHAN

Xanthan shows a well-known conformational transition in salt free solu tion at slightly elevated temperature, upon charging. Recently, a seco nd transition was reported at higher temperature, when potentiometric results were analyzed using a Henderson-Hasselbalch representation of the titration curves. The molar fractions of the xanthan monomers in t he different conformational states A, B, and C could then be determine d as a function of the degree of proton dissociation, theta. Here it i s shown that a simple linear dependence of the standard free enthalpy changes (Delta G degrees) of the transitions on theta adequately descr ibes the changing molar fractions throughout the titration curves. Fro m a temperature series of the first transition (A --> B), the dependen ce of the changes of standard enthalpy and entropy on theta, Delta H d egrees(theta), and Delta S degrees(theta) are inferred. Surprisingly, irrespective of the degree of dissociation, the A --> B transition is dominated by the change of standard entropy of the transition. Beyond theta approximate to 0.3 the B state is entropy stabilized relative to the A state. The dependence of the thermally induced transitions on t he polymer charge is illustrated with viscosity data.