Analysis of EO-PO Random Copolymer by Using a Conventional HPLC and MALDI SpiralTOF MS
Introduction
Ethylene oxide (EO) – propylene oxide (PO) copolymers have been used as components of various functional materials. Detailed analyses of them, however, still remain challenging. As it turns out, it is difficult to detect all of the components by using mass spectrometry alone without chromatographic separation due to ion suppression effects. In this work we analyzed an EO-PO random copolymer by using an LC – MALDI-SpiralTOF MS system, with the expectation of detecting more components as a result of reduced ion suppression effects.
Experimental
A commercially available EO-PO random copolymer (Mn ~ 2,500) as shown in Fig. 1 was dissolved in water and used for the analyses. The mass spectrum shown in Fig. 2 was obtained by analyzing the sample solution with MALDI – SpiralTOF MS without HPLC separation.