Complex Formation and Ionic Association in Methanol Solutions of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) and Alkaline Earth Salts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Complex formation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with divalent barium and strontium salts was investigated in methanol. In these systems the complexation was accompanied by a considerable degree of ionic association. An analytical model for the polymer-ion complexation based on a one-dimensional lattice model was proposed. According to this model, the electrostatic effects between the bound ions were separated from the total free energy change of the binding. Three binding constants, i.e., the ionic association constant K A, the cation binding constant, K c, and the anion binding constant, K a, could be estimated. K A for barium and strontium salts was comparable, and the effect of counteranions on K A was not large. K c for barium salts was almost independent of the kind of counteranion and larger than that for corresponding strontium salts, indicating stronger polymer-ion interaction for barium salts. The anion binding constant, K a, was strongly dependent upon the kind of anion, and the order was CI− − − 4 −. The pronounced ion binding for larger anions may be explained by the more favorable free energy change of desolvation. Finally, the concentration of free and bound ionic species was determined as a function of PEO concentration.