Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) is the dominant mode of separation for polymers. It is based on the discrimination of individual sample components by the pores of the packing material. Large sample molecules cannot or can only partially penetrate the pores, whereas smaller molecules can access most or all pores. Thus, large molecules elute first, smaller molecules elute later, while molecules that can access all the pores elute last from the column.

SEC is usually called Gel Filtration Chromatography when working with water-soluble polymers, while Gel Permeation Chromatography is preferred when working with polymers soluble in polar organic or organic solvents.

Gel Filtration Chromatography for Proteins and Water-Soluble Polymers

Gel Permeation Chromatography for Polar and Organic-Soluble Polymers

GFC is popular among biochemists for the isolation of proteins, for the removal of aggregates, to desalt a protein sample, to separate nucleic acid fractions, or to characterize water-soluble polymers used in food products, paints, pharmaceutical preparations, etc. Avaliable TSK-GEL products are classified by application area and particle composition. Select a type to learn more about the various product groups within each type. Silica Application Area: proteins and other biopolymers SW, SWxl and SuperSW columns for proteins and nucleic acids using an aqueous buffer as mobile phase Polymethacrylate Application Area: water-soluble polymers PW and PWxl columns for industrial polymers, oligosaccharides, nucleic acids, small viruses using aqueous buffer or salt solutions as mobile phase PWxl-CP columns for water-soluble cationic polymers using low salt conditions during elution GPC plays an important role in the characterization of polar organic-soluble and organic-soluble polymers in consumer, chemical and petrochemical industries. Polymethacrylate (high % X-linking) Sample: polar organic-soluble polymers Alpha and SuperAW columns for industrial polymers soluble in many polar organic solvents ranging from methanol, acetonitrile, DMF, DMSO, to THF and HFIP. Available column types for organic-soluble polymers are grouped according to their relative lack of adsorptive properties and speed of analysis. High throughput column dimensions are 4.6 or 6mm ID x 15cm, while conventional columns are 7.8mm ID x 30cm. Polystyrene Application Area: organic-soluble polymers Ultra-low adsorption columns with limited range of solvents SuperHZ and SuperMultiporeHZ columns (High Throughput) Hxl and Multipore columns (conventional) Low adsorption columns with expanded solvent range SuperH (High Throughput) Hhr (conventional)