Optimizing GPC/SEC measurements by combining high-performance columns and powerful advanced detectors

Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), also known as Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), is a very popular analytical tool for characterizing natural and synthetic polymers. Advanced GPC/SEC analysis using multi-detectors is increasingly being used to measure absolute molecular weight independent of column retention volume and to add other measurements such as those of intrinsic viscosity and hydrodynamic radius. With this information, scientists can accurately study how changes in molecular weight and structure affect polymer performance.

Advances in detector technology have enabled more accurate and information-rich measurements, but the quality of those measurements is still dependent on the quality of the separation, which itself remains dependent on the column. Good resolution depends on matching the column pore size to the sample of interest and an ideal separation requires no interaction between the sample and the column material. Additionally, in order to maximize light scattering signal-to-noise, columns should be stable over time and not shed any particulates, to which the light scattering detector will be very sensitive.

From the detector standpoint, inter-detector distances should be reduced to minimize peak dispersion. This webinar discusses how high quality columns and detectors both contribute to high quality GPC/SEC measurements. It also discusses how the two interact with each other and show data to demonstrate some ideal measurements as well as showing some of the symptoms of poor measurements while discussing the possible causes.