Liquid chromatography of dextrans on porous silica beds

Kinetics, equilibrium isotherms and chromatography retention times for sorption of dextrans T-10, T-20, T-40, T-70, T-110, T-161, T-250 and T-500 on porous silica were measured at 25 degrees C. The Henry constant and retention factors for the dextrans were obtained. The values of the partition coefficient for the distribution of the dextrans between the bulk solution and the pore space were calculated within the framework of a pore volume filling model with consideration given to the ratio between the sizes of the macromolecular coils and the pore inlet. The measurements showed that this parameter depends on the structure of the sorbent and the molecular mass distribution of the dextran. The interaction of aqueous dextran solution with porous silica is characterized by the sieve effect. Large macromolecular coils of dextran T-161 cannot penetrate into the pore space of the silica sorbent with pore diameter 14 nm. The difference in Henry law constants calculated from adsorption and chromatographic data for dextrans T-70 and T-110 can be explained by the slow diffusion of dextran macromolecules into silica pores under chromatographic conditions.