Experimental method and thermodynamic model for competitive adsorption between polycarboxylate comb copolymers

This study presents a method that establishes the existence of competitive adsorption between polycarboxylate ether (PCE) molecules with different molecular architecture. By combining well-established total organic carbon measurements UV–Visible absorption, competition PCEs structures could be quantified. Results are interpreted by deriving fundamental thermodynamic model describing PCE as dynamic equilibrium adsorbed and dissolved architectures. The rationalizes effect dispersity in charge backbone length on behavior contributes to understanding working mechanism level.