Highly reliable determination of the interdetector delay volume in SEC-MALS for precise characterization of macromolecules having narrow and broad molar mass distributions

摘要

The interdetector delay volumes (IDV) for multiangle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractometer detectors are essential instrumental parameters affecting reliability and accuracy. However, a reliable and accurate determination method has not yet been established. The paper proposes a method for determining the IDV value. An SEC-MALS setup with the correct IDV value provides more accurate estimates of not only the weight average molar mass and z-average mean-square radius of gyration but also the number average molar mass and differential weight distribution function for polymer samples having narrow and broad molar mass distributions.