Nanoparticles based on polyelectrolyte complexes: effect of structure and net charge on the sorption capability for solved organic molecules

The sorption of solved organic molecules such as p-nitrophenol or dyes on p reviously formed nanoparticles based on polyelectrolyte/micelle complexes o r polycation/polyanion complexes was studied. It could be shown that the so rption capability strongly depends on the structure and properties of the c omplex particles. Investigations have been made with complex particles that differ in their hydrophobic/hydrophilic structure, size and net charge. Su ch complex aggregates could be prepared by mixing the cationic surfactant d odecylamidoethyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride? the polycations poly(diall ydimethylammonium chloride) or poly(methacryloyloxyethyldimethylbenzylammon ium chloride) and the copolymers of maleic acid with propene or methylstyre ne as anionic components. It is found that the sorption capability increase s with increasing molar mass and hydrophobic properties of the components u sed. In addition, the concentration ratio c(polym)/c(org.poll) that was req uired to reach optimal sorption conditions could be decreased by the use of macromolecules with high molar masses. The best results were obtained by u sing cationic stabilized complex particles formed with high-molar-mass poly cations as sorbents for anionic dye molecules.