Size exclusion chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection: Method for the determination of polydimethylsiloxanes: II. Application of TSK-GEL HHRGMHHR-M column to determine and separate molecular weight of linear polydimethylsiloxanes

Issues concerned with molecular weight distribution analysis of linear polydimethylsiloxanes have not been extensively investigated and mastered, yet. Current publications do not provide detailed research data on the evaluation of the polymerization degree of polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) present in variable matrices: e.g. pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foodstuffs nor indicate molecular weights of the polymer used. However, the information on molecular weight, i.e. viscosity, is of primary importance as it directly affects PDMS toxicity, absorption and migration in the living organism. The vast majority of currently applied methods prove to be insufficiently specific for PDMS of a particular molecular weight and therefore alternative analytical methods have to be further researched. In this paper the results of determination of molecular weights in linear polydimethylsiloxanes, using size exclusion chromatography with the evaporative light scattering detector are described. The column calibration curve obtained from low-dispersion standard polystyrene of molecular weights ranging 376–2,570,000 Da was used to determine PDMS molecular weights. Precision and accuracy of determination was obtained. For the mobile phase flow-rate of 0.3 ml/min relative standard deviation RSD ranged to 0.45% and the accuracy of measurement amounted to −0.42%, whereas for flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min RSD ranged to 0.38% and accuracy to +2.15%.