Analysis of Water-Soluble Polymers Using Linear Size Exclusion HPLC Columns and a Semi-micro SEC System

In recent years water-soluble polymers are gaining more and more interest in different applications. The molecular weight distribution of polymers is usually characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with refractive index, viscometric or laser light scattering detection. Recent advances in SEC comprise semi-micro SEC and the design of linear columns providing wide molecular weight separation ranges and near-linear calibrations. We describe the separation of water-soluble polymers with a new generation of linear, polymer-based, semi-micro SEC columns using the compact EcoSEC SEC system.