Raman spectroscopic study of the hydration of short-chain poly(oxyethylene)s C1EnC1 (n = 1 - 4)

Abstract

The hypothesis that the degree of hydration of poly(oxyethylene) (POE) in aqueous solution depends on the mole ratio of water molecules to ether oxygen atoms in the molecule has been verified by studying the isotropic Raman spectra in the O-H stretching region for four short-chain POEs (C1EnC1 with n = 1-4). Excellent coincidence of the O-H stretching Raman band for all four POEs studied in the range of mole ratio H2O/Oether from 25 to 0.6 was observed, thus confirming the assumption stated above. A conclusion that all ether oxygen atoms in the POE molecule participate in hydrogen bonding with water molecules has been made. © Central European Science Journals. All rights reserved.