Molecular mass distribution of cellulosic products by size exclusion chromatography in DMAc/LiCl

The dissolution system N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl) i s reported in the literature to be a suitable eluent for the determination of the molecular mass distribution of cellulosic substrates by size exclusi on chromatography (SEC). This article deals with fundamental and practical issues concerning this method. After the description of the applied chromat ographic system and the processing of the data gained by the coupled light scattering detector: (MALLS) the influence of different techniques of cellu lose activation-and dissolution is discussed considering various cellulose- samples like high and low molecular weight pulp and viscose fiber. Furtherm ore, results of dynamic light scattering experiments in the concentration r ange of SEC samples are presented with regard tb:the state and molecular di spersion of the sample solutions. Typical applications : of this SEC-MALLS method of cellulose in DMAc/LiCl are discussed. Preliminary results of an i nterlaboratory comparison of different SEC methods for the determination of the molecular mass distribution of cellulose give some information on the current state of diversity of results of different research groups.