Analysis of polyethylenimine by spectrophotometry of its copper chelate

Abstract

Abstract Polyethylenimine (PEI) forms a copper chelate with a N/Cu ratio of about 5 and with extinction coefficients of about 175 at 6350 A. and 4250 at 2694 A. Solutions of PEI‐copper chelate obey Lambert's and Beer's laws and show increased optical density in the presence of chloride ion. Above pH 4.25, hydrogen ion has little effect. A comparison with the copper chelate of polyvinylamine suggests that PEI has a highly, branched structure. Analysis of PEI via its copper chelate is described.