Electromigration behavior of metal ions in the presence of complexing polymer

Electromigration behavior of metal ions in the presence of high concentrati ons of polyethylene glycol as a complexing agent was investigated under aci dic non-buffered conditions. Simulation of the isotachophoretic steady stat e of the system containing the neutral polymer was performed. Both the comp lexation and the influence of viscosity on the electrophoretic mobility wer e taken into account. Good agreement between the calculated results and the experimentally obtained values was achieved. Based on the theoretical mode l, a new approach for the estimation of polymer-metal stability constants f rom experimental isotachophoretic data was proposed. Stability constants of Li+, Na+, Cs+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Lu3+ and Y3+ ions with polyethylene glycol were determined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.