Infinite dilution diffusion coefficients of organic solvents in nascent polyethylene particles by inverse gas chromatography measurements

Abstract Diffusion coefficients of four organic solvents: dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane and n-hexane in polyethylene particles at infinite dilution were determined by use of inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The polymer particles were used as supplied by the producer to pack the chromatographic columns. This allowed a direct measurement of the interested properties in a particle with the same morphology obtained at the reactor outlet. The particle morphology was investigated and classical mathematical model for chromatographic process was adopted based upon the analysis of particle microstructure. It was found that the limitation step for mass transfer was in the polymer matrix rather than in macropores, and when interpreted in terms of diffusion coefficients for spherical particles, the measured diffusion coefficients compared favourably with predicted values from literature relationships and free volume theory.