Effects of Molecular Weight and Surface Interactions on Polymer Diffusion in Confinement.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the transport and thermodynamics of polymers in confined spaces is helpful for many separation processes like water purification, drug delivery, and oil recovery. Specifically, for water purification, dextran has been used as a "model" foulant. Uncovering how these polymers interact in confinement can reduce the fouling of organic membranes and will lead to better separation processes overall. We have determined the diffusion coefficient, D, of dextran and sodium polyacrylate in convex lens-induced confinement using differential dynamic microscopy. In this setup, the gap height ranges continuously from 0.077-21.8 μm. It was found that polymer diffusion becomes slower in higher confinement, which is consistent with a change in the increase of the hydrodynamic resistance

SUBMITTER: Roopnarine BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9948537 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature