Nanoparticles based on polyelectrolyte complexes: effect of structure and net charge on the sorption capability for solved organic molecules

The sorption of solved organic molecules such as p-nitrophenol or dyes on previously formed nanoparticles based on polyelectrolyte/micelle complexes or polycation/polyanion complexes was studied. It could be shown that the sorption capability strongly depends on the structure and properties of the complex particles. Investigations have been made with complex particles that differ in their hydrophobic/hydrophilic structure, size and net charge. Such complex aggregates could be prepared by mixing the cationic surfactant dodecylamidoethyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride? the polycations poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) or poly(methacryloyloxyethyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride) and the copolymers of maleic acid with propene or methylstyrene as anionic components. It is found that the sorption capability increases with increasing molar mass and hydrophobic properties of the components used. In addition, the concentration ratio c(polym)/c(org.poll) that was required to reach optimal sorption conditions could be decreased by the use of macromolecules with high molar masses. The best results were obtained by using cationic stabilized complex particles formed with high-molar-mass polycations as sorbents for anionic dye molecules.