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Abstract

New separation methods termed Enhanced Partitioning Fractionation (EPF) and High Osmotic Pressure Chromatography (HOPC) are described. The HOPC method involves passing large amounts of concentrated polymer solutions over porous material in a packed column. The concentration is high enough to allow for polymer chain overlap and to generate high osmotic pressures with respect to the porous material. The resulting high osmotic pressure causes increased separation of the polymer sample based on molecular size. The higher molecular weight components are concentrated in the initial fractions of eluent collected, whereas lower molecular weight components are concentrated in later fractions. The molecular weight of each fraction decreases with each successive fraction of eluent. The method is applicable to a wide variety of polymers and provides significant performance advantages to conventional preparative scale GPC. EPF is not a chromatographic procedure, but allows for fractionation of concentrated polymer solutions that generate high osmotic pressures in contact with porous material.

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