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Molecular weight
Measurement of absolute molecular weight and molecular weight distribution.
Malvern’s systems support two fundamental ways of measuring the molecular weight of polymers and proteins in solution.
Measuring molecular weight using static light scattering (SLS)
In this technique the total amount of light scattered by the sample is measured by a sensitive detector at a particular scattering angle.
- No calibration is required, so the result is an absolute value.
- Detectors are available for SEC/GPC to give true molecular weight distributions.
- A cuvette based system such as the Zetasizer µV or the Zetasizer Nano series can be used to give a weight average molecular weight.
Measuring molecular weight using dynamic light scattering (DLS)
This technique measures the size of the molecule, and converts this to an estimated molecular weight using a selected model such as protein, dendrimer or linear polymer for example.
- Very small volumes of sample are required, as little as 2µL.
- The measurement is very fast, a couple of minutes per measurement.
A molecular weight distribution can be calculated, although separations of oligomers, e.g. monomer – dimer - trimer are not possible.
Molecular weight products
Viscotek range
Research grade multi detector GPC/SEC systems
- Sample type:
- Polymer, Protein & Biopolymer
- Temperature range:
- Ambient to 160°C
- Technology:
- Size Exclusion Chromatography
Zetasizer range
Particle and molecule size, zeta potential, molecular weight
- Sample type:
- Protein
- Temperature range:
- 0°C to 90°C
- Technology:
- Static light scattering & size exclusion chromatography
- Sample cell type:
- Cuvette & micro well plate
Malvern solutions for Molecular weight
Molecular weight and structure of chitosans
Chitosan is derived from chitin, a linear polysaccharide that composes the hard shell of crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, etc.). After a degree of deacetylation...
Protein and polymer molecular size by GPC/SEC
The main goal of most Gel Permeation/Size Exclusion Chromatography (GPC/SEC) experiments is to determine the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the sample...
Analysis of membrane protein by multi-detector SEC
Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is a commonly used tool in the biological sciences. Typically, it is used to measure the molecular weight of an unknown sample...
