Swelling of dextran gel and osmotic pressure of soluble dextran in the presence of salts

Abstract

Abstract The swelling of dextran gels (Sephadex) in salt solutions with a water activity of 0.937, compared with the swelling in pure water, exhibited anion specificity as evidenced by an increased swelling ratio in the following order: Na 2 SO 4 < H 2 O < NaCl < NaSCN. The swelling ratio showed a good linear correlation with the osmotic pressure of dextran (500 kD) in these solutions. The salt‐concentration difference (imbalance) between the polymer‐solution side of the membrane and the polymer‐free permeate side during the osmotic‐pressure measurements positively correlated with the effect of the salt on the polymer osmotic pressure. These phenomena conform to Hofmeister‐type (or lyotropic) behavior. The diminishing augmentation of dextran osmotic pressure and the change in the salt‐concentration imbalance with rising NaSCN concentration imply a positive preferential interaction and adsorption of the salt onto the polymer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2740–2750, 2001