Infinite Dilute Activity and Diffusion Coefficients in Polymers by Inverse Gas Chromatography

The infinite dilute activity and diffusion coefficients of solvents in poly(vinyl alcohol) and cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) are determined by using inverse gas chromatography technique with a packed column. Experimental results for water, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 1-pentanol, and 3-methyl-1-butanol in poly(vinyl alcohol); for water, methanol, and ethanol in cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) at different temperatures are presented. The van Deemter equation is used to obtain diffusion coefficients of solvents from the variation of chromatographic peak under the different flow rates of carrier gas. The interdependence on the infinite dilute diffusion coefficient and temperature follows Arrhenius equation well. Diffusion constant and activation energy are obtained from the Arrhenius equation.