Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)

Gel permeation chromatography, also known as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), is a key analytical technique used in the characterization of polymers. During GPC analysis, a polymer sample is dissolved with a selected solvent then introduced to a GPC column which is packed with a porous material. The column material allows polymer, oligomer and monomers to diffuse through the column at different speeds according to their size. 

Size exclusion chromatography is able to characterize a wide range of molecular weights from a few hundred to several millions of Daltons for the polymer under evaluation by comparing the retention time of the components present in the sample against the retention times of a series of molecular weight polymer standards.

Intertek’s scientists use gel permeation chromatography methods to characterize polymers using both aqueous and organic solvents. Our GPC analysis services laboratories in Europe and the USA provide critical information to customers, helping speed their development of new polymers, synthesis routes and purification techniques and provide information to support regulatory submissions or support ongoing quality control. 

Using a variety of GPC detectors, including refractive index (RI), evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD), multi-angle laser light-scattering detection (MALLS) and viscosity detectors we provide GPC analysis services to support global clients across the chemicals, polymers, plastics, packaging, pharmaceutical, coatings, petroleum, food, automotive, agrichemical, adhesives and additives sectors. 
Bringing quality and safety to life, our GPC laboratories help you power ahead with precision.  
 

Advantages of size exclusion chromatography:

• Determination of polymer molecular weight and molecular weight distribution
• Quantitation of mixture components in various matrices including water and organic liquids
• Measurement of average molecular weight and polydispersity of polymers
• Determination of polymer absolute mass using light scattering detection
• Provide support data for registering new products as polymers
• Quality control methods to support production consistency and quality
• Molecular weight information where high temperatures are required for the analysis of polyolefins
• Challenging solvents such as HFIP for the GPC analysis of both polyamides and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Size Exclusion Chromatography Analysis Services: 

• High Temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography (HTGPC)
• Polymer Molecular Weight Determination
• Aqueous GPC Services
• GPC-NMR Analysis
• Protein Aggregation studies
• Pharmaceutical polymer excipient characterisation
• Chemical Characterisation for Medical Devices According to ISO 10993-18

Gel Permeation and Size Exclusion Chromatography Test Methods

• Polymer Evaluation in using a wide range of organic solvents including tetrahydrofuran (THF)
  • High Resolution GPC up to 10 million Daltons
  • Low Mass GPC up to 3,000 Daltons
  • Normal Range GPC in range of 500 – 7,500,000 Daltons
  • Absolute mass determination
• Challenging solvents such as HFIP for the GPC analysis of both polyamides and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Polymer Evaluation in Aqueous Solutions - Water-soluble polymers in range of 500 to 1,000,000 Daltons

• Wide range of detection methods including refractive index (RI), evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD), multi-angle laser light-scattering detection (MALLS) and viscosity detectors

• Conventional calibration using polystyrene (PS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA)

• Absolute mass using MALLs detection ensures more accurate mass determination, as well as branching information