Polyethylene glycol separation from surfactants

The conformations of tethered polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains anchored on styrene polymers (PS) latex particles, labelled with pyrene and mononaphthyl PEG ester, in the presence of an anionic surfactant, dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and Na and K chlorides were studied, using distance-dependent nonradiative energy transfer from the naphthalene moieties to the pyrene ones as a guide. The results indicated a change in acceptor/donor separation distance in response to external stimuli. Analysis of the resnlts snggested considerable polymer chain contraction on interaction with salts and surfactant below the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant. 

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