GPC Component Parts

The gel permeation chromatography contains a number of different components that

work together to provide optimum system performance with minimum effort. It includes
mixing a sample with the solvent, pumping it through the column, detecting the sample
fractions, record the separation and the results, and calculate the molecular weight
averages.

Schematic of a gel permeation chromatography

1. Solvents and solvent containers

The selection of solvent in GPC depends on several factors, such as its ability to
dissolve a sample.
The solvent should be able to dissolve the sample. The solvent must not induce
any other interactions between the sample and the stationary phase, so that the
separation is solely on the basis of sample size.
The solvent container should be made of clear glass or amber glass for solvents
affected by sunlight, with a stopper.

2. Oven
Some gel permeation chromatograph have heated and thermostatically
controlled ovens in which the columns and detectors are placed. It maintains
the temperature of columns.
This part of GPC is necessary because some solvents require higher
temperatures as they have higher viscosities than other organic solvents.
Other solvents also require higher temperature that room temperature to
maintain the solubility of the sample during analysis.

3. Pump
Pump delivers eluent from reservoir at a constant volumetric flow rate.
Regardless of viscosities of the solution, the pump has to be able to run the
same flow rate or else, the results cannot be compared from one analysis to
another.
 The internal volume of the pump should be small because using when using a
different sample, it means flushing the system.
Moreover, the pump should be made from inert materials such as stainless steels
and ceramics, which do not react with the solvents and can withstand very high
pressure.

4. Injection and Injector

Injector introduces the polymer solution into the mobile phase or the flowing
solvent stream. It permits introduction of sample solution without interrupting
solvent flow. It should be capable of automatic multiple sample injection when
the sample volume is large.
Before injection, samples must be prepared first by dissolving it in an
appropriate solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF).

5. Column

Column set efficiently separates sample components from one another. It is a

hollow tube tightly packed with extremely small porous beads.
Column selection is critical to ensure that one obtains the correct molecular
weight distribution of the polymer of interest.
Columns vary in length and in diameters. Length of columns range from 50 mm
to 300 mm and diameters range from 4.6 mm to 25 mm, depending on their
intended use.
Commercially Available Columns include:
Guard column 7.5 x 50 mm ID
Analytical column 4.6 x 250 mm ID or 7.5 x 300 mm ID
Preparative column 25 mm x 300 mm ID
The type of bead in the column is controlled to match different applications.

6. Detectors

Detector monitors the separation and responds to components as they elute from
the column.
This must have a wide sensitivity range so that they react accurately both to
trace quantities and large amounts of material, if necessary. It must be sensitive
enough to measure very small changes in the quantities in mobile phase.

Concentration sensitive detectors measure concentration alone

Differential Refractive Index (DRI) Detector universal detectors
Ultraviolet (UV) Absorption Detector
Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD)

Molar Mass sensitive detectors

Light Scattering Detectors give response directly proportional to the molecular
weight of the polymer molecules and can provide size information too
Low Angle Light Scattering (LALS) Detectors
Multiangle Light Scattering (MALS) Detectors
Viscosity Detectors Differential Viscometers provide accurate molecular
weight determination and information on how dense the polymer molecules are.

7. Data Processor
 Automatically calculates, records, and report numerical values for Mz, Mw, Mv,
Mn, and MWD.
Data systems can also provide complete control of GPC systems so that large
numbers of samples can be run unattended and raw data can be automatically
processed. Today's GPC software offerings need to be able to provide special
calculations for multi-detection processing, band broadening correction, special
calibration routines and polymer branching determination, just to name a few.

PUMP
INJECTOR COLUMNS
OVEN

DETECTOR DATA PROCESSOR