A new GPC/TREF/LinELSD instrument to determine the molecular weight distribution and chemical composition: application to recycled polymers

The linearized evaporative light scattering detector (LinELSD) incorporates an inverse power function facilitating the characterization of polymers in solution. To show benefits LinELSD, a versatile liquid chromatograph was built by combining high temperature gel permeation (HT-GPC), fast cooling/heating oven gas (GC), and LinELSD. Apart from main GPC functionality to measure molecular weight distribution (MWD) polymers, injected samples can also be eluted as polymer type applying rising elution fractionation (TREF) program on column placed GC oven. hybrid GPC/TREF/LinELSD instrument removes limitations commercial TREF systems manufactured with differential refractive index (DRI) or infrared (IR) detectors, which require sensible difference between indices solvent, absence CH2 CH3 groups solvent. Thus, new qualifies characterize chemical structure recycled demanding more flexible analytical conditions than those previously developed for virgin resin analysis. Moreover, allows investigate polyolefin solutions xylene toluene, are preferred solvents selective extraction high-performance mixed plastic waste, thus qualifying unique solution assess emergent solvent-based purification industrial processes.