EN ISO 13885-3:2021 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 13885-3:2021 - "Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) - Part 3: Water as eluent" (ISO 13885-3:2020) is a CEN-adopted ISO method that specifies a standardized procedure to determine the molar-mass distribution and the average molar masses Mn (number average) and Mw (weight average) of polymers that are soluble in water using gel permeation chromatography (also known as size exclusion chromatography, SEC). The standard is intended for neutral polymers and polyanions and is published for use in laboratories performing polymer characterization, quality control and research.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and limitations
  • Applicable to water-soluble neutral polymers and polyanions (e.g., polycarboxylates, polysaccharides, fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, high‑molecular polyethylene oxides).
  • Not applicable to polycations (examples: polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyridine, certain quaternized polymers, chitosan).
  • Not suitable for samples with Mw > 10^6 g/mol or with elution outside the calibration range.
  • Method does not include correction methods for peak broadening; absolute methods (membrane osmometry, light scattering) are recommended when absolute molar masses are required.
• Apparatus and consumables
  • Requirements for eluent supply, pump, injection system, separation columns, column temperature control and detectors.
• Calibration and standards
  • Specification of calibration standards, preparation of calibration solutions, calibration runs and plotting of the calibration curve (see Clause 7).
• Analytical procedure
  • Sampling, sample and apparatus preparation, analytical parameters and injection conditions.
• Data acquisition and evaluation
  • Baseline determination, calculation of net chromatogram, evaluation limits, calculation of Mn, Mw and distribution curves.
• Performance characteristics
  • Precision information including repeatability and reproducibility (Clause 12).
• Reporting
  • Required content of the test report and data on equipment, calibration and sample specifics.

Applications and users

• Routine quality control and batch-to-batch monitoring of water-soluble polymers used in paints, varnishes, adhesives, textiles and pharmaceuticals.
• R&D laboratories characterizing polymer molar-mass distribution and polymer degradation.
• Analytical service providers and regulatory laboratories requiring standardized GPC/SEC methods.
• Manufacturers and suppliers of binders, polysaccharides and polycarboxylates who need validated, comparable data.

Related standards

• Other parts of the ISO 13885 series covering different eluents or instrument configurations.
• Absolute molar-mass techniques referenced in the standard: membrane osmometry (for Mn) and light scattering (for Mw).

Keywords: EN ISO 13885-3:2021, GPC, gel permeation chromatography, water as eluent, size exclusion chromatography, molar mass distribution, Mn, Mw, water-soluble polymers, calibration, columns, detectors.