Characterization of synthetic polyelectrolytes by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis in entangled polymer solutions was applied to det ermine the molecular mass and polydispersity of polyelectrolytes. The separ ation selectivities of different polyethylene glycols as buffer additive ca n be correlated to their average molecular mass. A universal curve correlat ing the selectivity and the molecular mass could be obtained by using the i nstrinsic viscosity of the polyethylene glycol. The separation of poly(2-vi nylpyridine) standards was compared to the separation of poly(4-vinylpyridi ne) standards. An indirect detection system was developed to characterize t he cationic polyelectrolyte polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride. Various polymers with oppositely charged groups (polycarboxy-beraines) were investi gated with respect to structure dependence, pH dependence and molecular mas s dependence of inter-and intramolecular association. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.