Characterization of Pullulan

Significance of the Topic

Accurate molecular weight determination of water soluble polymers is essential in polymer science and quality control seeking reproducible and reliable calibration standards

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note outlines the use of non ionic, linear pullulan standards for calibration of aqueous GPC/SEC systems
It aims to describe chromatographic conditions, sample preparation guidelines and column recommendations for a wide molar mass range

Methodology

• Mobile phase: water with 0.05 percent sodium azide
• Stationary phase: PSS SUPREMA columns operated at 25 °C and 1.00 mL per minute flow rate
• Detection: refractive index using Shodex RI71
• Calibration: pullulan standards spanning 100 Da to over 1 million Da
• Data processing: PSS WinGPC software
• Injection volume: 20 microliters
• Sample concentration guidelines:
  • Narrow PDI polymers: 2 grams per liter for 100 Da to 10000 Da, 1–2 grams per liter for 10000 Da to 1 million Da, 0.5 grams per liter or less above 1 million Da
  • Broad PDI polymers: 3 to 5 grams per liter across all molar masses
• Column selection according to molar mass range:
  • Low MW: PSS SUPREMA columns set or linear column P N 206-0001 or sua083005lis
  • Medium MW: P N 206-0002 or sua083005lim
  • High MW: P N 206-0003 or sua083010lxl
  • Ultra high MW: P N 206-0004 or sua083010luh

Applied Instrumentation

• System: aqueous GPC/SEC equipped with PSS SUPREMA columns
• Detector: Shodex RI71 refractive index detector
• Software: PSS WinGPC for chromatogram evaluation and calibration curve construction

Main Results and Discussion

The separation of pullulan standards on PSS SUPREMA columns produced sharp elugrams and linear calibration functions across the tested molar mass range
Molar mass distributions derived from the calibration showed consistent resolution for both narrow and broad distributions using the recommended conditions

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Pullulan standards offer strict linearity and non ionic behavior to minimize column interactions
• Wide molar mass coverage supports characterization of polymers from oligomers to high molecular weights
• Standardized conditions enhance reproducibility in research, quality control and industrial analytics

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Integration of multi detectors such as light scattering and viscometry will improve absolute molar mass and structural information
Expansion of aqueous calibration strategies to other water soluble polymers may benefit biopolymers and advanced materials research

Conclusion

Pullulan calibration standards combined with PSS SUPREMA columns and defined chromatographic settings enable accurate and repeatable molecular weight analysis in aqueous GPC/SEC systems