An Eluent Pressure Detector for Aqueous Size Exclusion Chrohatography

An on-line viscometer which measures the eluent pressure drop across a long capillary was developed for use in aqueous size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Intrinsic viscosities of several polymer standards were calculated from data collected by the viscometer. These viscosities agree well with the measurements made with a Ubbelohde four-bulb shear dilution viscometer. The on-line viscometer becomes more sensitive as polymer hydro-dynamic volume increases. Therefore, it can be more effective than a refractive index detector for SEC analysis of high molecular weight, water soluble polymers.