Adsorption and desorption of macromolecules on the solid surfaces studied by on-line SEC. 1. The principle of method

Size exclusion chromatography is shown to produce valuable information on the adsorption-desorption processes of macromolecules onto/from solid surfaces from/into a solvent under dynamic conditions. The adsorbent under study is packed into an appropriate adsorption-desorption column (ADC). The investigated macromolecules are injected into the ADC and the nonadsorbed fraction is directed into an on-line SEC column for molecular characterization. Alternatively, the amount and molecular characteristics of a polymer fully retained by the adsorption-desorption column can easily be determined after its desorption from the ADC by an appropriate displacing liquid. The exchanges within the adsorbed layer of macromolecules among species differing in their molar masses or/and chemical compositions can be readily studied in this way, as well.