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Application Compendium - Agilent Technologies

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Author<br />

Greg Saunders<br />

<strong>Agilent</strong> <strong>Technologies</strong>, Inc.<br />

Analysis of Biodegradable Polymers<br />

by GPC<br />

<strong>Application</strong> Note<br />

Introduction<br />

Polymers have a wide range of uses in society because of their durability and<br />

resistance. This durability, however, has its drawbacks, especially when it comes<br />

to the disposal of polymers once they are no longer useful. An accumulation of<br />

degradation resistant polymers in landfill sites has become a serious problem. The<br />

solution is a polymer that can be degraded by natural means without losing the<br />

functional properties that make the polymer so useful.<br />

A biodegradable polymer can be broken down into simpler substances by the<br />

activities of living organisms and is, therefore, unlikely to persist in the environment.<br />

Biodegradable polymers are also used in medicine, for such things as drug and<br />

gene delivery or bio-absorbable stents. Polycaprolactones and polylactides are<br />

good examples of biodegradable polymers with a wide range of industrial and<br />

biomedical applications. Polycaprolactones are fully biodegradable thermoplastic<br />

polymers, though they are derived from the chemical synthesis of non-renewable<br />

crude oil. Polylactides (PLA) are biodegradable polymers derived from lactic acid.<br />

Gel permeation chromatography is an ideal method for the analysis of biodegradable<br />

polymers. The approach adopted here employs refractive index and viscometry<br />

detection.

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