Contribution of flow field flow fractionation with on line static and dynamic light scattering to the study of hydrosoluble polyelectrolyte complexes

Didier Le Cerf (1) , Sébastien Simon (1) , Jean-François Argillier (2) , Luc Picton (1)

1 PBM - Polymères, biopolymères, membranes
2 Institut Français du Pétrole

Water soluble polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) formed between polyaspartate (anionic polymer) and poly(trimethylammonium propyl methacrylamide chloride) (cationic polymer) were studied by flow field flow fractionation with on-line coupling multi-angle laser light scattering–quasi elastic light scattering–differential refractive index determination (F4/MALLS/QELS/DRI). The separation technique permits to characterize polydisperse PECs. The molar mass of the polycation (PC) influences the stiffness of the PECs and the proportion between single PECs (i.e. nPA/1PC) and multiple PECs (i.e. nPA/n’PC). High ionic strength with NaCl (>0.1 M) tends to break the multiple PECs while CaCl2 destroys PECs and leads to the formation of complexes polyaspartate/Ca2+. The studied PECs can be used as inhibitors to the calcite formation in the drilling fluids.

Keywords: Polyelectrolyte complexes; Flow field flow fractionation; On line light scattering; Polyaspartate; Calcium ions

Domains: Chemical Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Polymers

Didier Le Cerf, Sébastien Simon, Jean-François Argillier, Luc Picton. Contribution of flow field flow fractionation with on line static and dynamic light scattering to the study of hydrosoluble polyelectrolyte complexes. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2007, 604 (1), pp.2 - 8. ⟨10.1016/j.aca.2007.06.012⟩. ⟨hal-01866829⟩