Separation and Characterization of Macromolecules


Separation is a science! There are theoretical rules behind those peaks in polymer and DNA separations. We have been collaborating with experimental groups to uncover the theoretical rules behind these peaks, thereby enabling a better design and better control of the separation.

We have been working with several experimental groups in US, Germany, Slovak and Korea whoare developing new separation methods for complex polymers, polymers that possess more complex chemical composition distributions and/or architectural distributions than linear homopolymers. These new separation methods can be broadly divided to sorption based liquid chromatography (such as LCCC and LAC) or transport controlled separations (LC LCI, LC LCA and HDC). In order to gain better understanding and better control of the separation in these experiments, we perform computational/theoretical studies that examine how the interactions of complex polymers with column substrates (usually nanoporous materials) control the equilibrium distribution and transport of polymers in nanopores. The manipulation of the interactions between substrate and polymers through the variation of solvent, temperature, and bonded surface modifications are being explored. The objective of our study is to provide a molecularly based understanding and the control of the separation of the complex polymer systems.


Memoir: Remembering Dusan Berek

Related Publications

  1. Partitioning of polymers into pores near the critical adsorption point, Y. Gong, Y. Wang, Macromolecules 35, 7492-7498 (2002).
  2. A Computational Investigation of the Critical Condition Used in the Liquid Chromatography of Polymers, S. Orelli, W. Jiang, Y. Wang. Macromolecules 37, 10073-10078 (2004).
  3. Retention behaviors of block copolymers in liquid chromatography at the critical condition. W. Jiang, S. Khan, Y. Wang, Macromolecules 38, 7514-7520 (2005).
  4. Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of on-chip hydrodynamic chromatography,Yongmei Wang, Wenhua Jiang, Sarah Miller, Eugene Eckstein, J. Chromatography A 1198,140-147 (2008)
  5. Retention behavior of star-shaped polystyrene near the chromatographic critical condition, K. Im; H.-W. Park; Y. Kim; S. Ahn; T. Chang; K. Lee; H.-J. Lee; J. Ziebarth, Y. Wang. Macromolecules 41 (9), 3375-3383 (2008)
  6. Partitioning of star branched polymers into pores at three chromatography conditions. Yongmei Wang, Aaron Masur, Yutian Zhu, Jesse Ziebarth, J. Chromatography A 1217, 6102-6109 (2010)
  7. Transport of Star-Branched Polymers in Nanoscale Pipe Channels Simulated with Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation. Ziqi Li, Yajie Li, Yongmei Wang, ZhaoYan Sun, Lijia An, Macromolecules 43 (13), 5896-5903 (2010)
  8. Dependence of critical condition in liquid chromatography on the pore size of column substrates, Yutian Zhu, Jesse Ziebarth, Yongmei Wang, Polymer 52, 3219-3225 (2011)
  9. A review on the development of liquid chromatography systems for polyolefins, Tibor Macko, Robert Brull, Yutian Zhu, Yongmei Wang, J. Sep. Sci. 33, 3446-3454 (2010). (invited review)
  10. Characterization of ethylene-propylene copolymers with high-temperature gradient adsorption liquid chromatography and CRYSTAF, Tibor Macko, Robert Brull, Yongmei Wang, Baudilio Coto, Inmaculada Suarez, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 122, 3211-3217 (2011).
  11. Can the Individual Block in Block Copolymer be Made Chromatographically "Invisible" at the Critical Condition of Its Corresponding Homopolymer? Xiaoping Yang, Yutian Zhu, Yongmei Wang, Polymer, 45, 3730-3736 (2013)
  12. HPLC characterization of hydrogenous polystyrene-b-deuterated polystyrene using isotope effect, Sanghoon Lee, Hyojoon Lee, Lam Thieu, Youncheol Jeong, Taihyun Chang, Chao Fu, Yutian Zhu, Yongmei Wang, Macromolecules, 46, 9114-9121 (2013) (doi:10.1021/ma4018247)
  13. A Monte Carlo study on LCCC characterization of graft copolymers at the critical condition of side chains, Yutian Zhu, Jesse D. Ziebarth, Chao Fu, Yongmei Wang, Polymer 67, 47-54 (2015), doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2015.04.067
  14. Interactions of Complex Polymers with Nanoporous Substrate, Jesse D. Ziebarth, Yongmei Wang, Soft Matter 12, 5245-5256 (2016) (invited review, open access)
  15. Comparison of Critical Adsorption Points of Ring Polymers with Linear Polymers. Ziebarth J. D, Gardiner A. A, Wang Yongmei, Jeong, Y., Ahn, J. Jin, Y., Chang, Taihyun. Macromolecules 49, 8780-8788. (2016) doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01925.

Books Edited

Recept Progress in Separation of Macromolecules and Particulates, ACS Symposium Series 2018