Molecular characterization of statistical copolymers: 1. Potential and limitations of full adsorption–desorption procedure in separation of statistical copolymers

Dynamic integral desorption isotherms for a series of poly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymers and poly(methyl methacrylate)–polystyrene statistical copolymers were measured. Nonporous silica was the full adsorption–desorption (FAD) column packing and various adsorption‐promoting and desorption‐promoting liquids were used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the FAD approach for separation of statistical copolymers. The effects of the adsorbing liquid and desorbing liquid nature were demonstrated on the positions and shapes of desorption isotherms. The desorption isotherms also strongly depended on both (co)polymer molar mass and copolymer chemical composition. This indicates large fractionation potential of the FAD procedure. Simultaneously, the interference of both above parameters prevents the direct use of FAD for fractionation of the copolymers. It is anticipated that the fractionation and/or reconcentration potential of the FAD procedure can be very effectively utilized in combination of FAD with size‐exclusion chromatography and/or with gradient elution liquid adsorption chromatography. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 857–864, 2000