Polyacid monolayers

In the present study a relation was sought for between the ionisation of an anionic monolayer and calcium binding. A hydrophobic polyacid the alternate copolymer of maleic acid and hexadecylvinylether has been utilised. 

Monolayers at the surface of aqueous electrolyte solutions may be useful models for polyelectrolytes [11, 14] and for biological membranes [15]. The average distribution of the fixed charges, limited to a plane near the interface, is well defined and the variation of the interfacial potential may be measured. Thus the surface potential-pH plots resemble those of acid-base titrations of polyacids [16, 19]. From these curves the degree of dissociation of the fatty acid in the monolayer may be deduced [17, 18]. 

Our monolayers are formed of polyacids which show such potentiometric titration curves in solution [34]. 

Monolayers of fatty acids lead to A V vs. pH curves resembling the titration curves of polyacids [17]. 

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