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+ Solubility
+ Solvent effect
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+ Polyethylene glycols
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Nuruzzaman Jony

Can anyone help with dissolving PEO in a solvent?

Chen Tang  Follow

While totally agreeing on what Nizar Matar has explained above. I just want to say you can dissolve PEO 1-2%Wt in water by stirring (magnetic stirring) overnight at around 50C. I have done that so if you prefer not to have alcohol in your polymer you can try that way to ensure homogeneous solution (viscous).

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Craig Brown  Follow

Theoretically speaking, your PEO has a high molecular weight but it must be soluble in water. However, PEO forms viscous, chewy solutions in water at concentrations less than 1 wt %. Solutions of higher concentrations are elastic gels. At 20 wt % solids, the solutions are hard & tough water-plasticized polymers. Near the boiling point of water, the water solubility decreases, phase separation can occur, and the solution can become cloudy.
My advice is to use a mixture of solvents instead of a single solvent. Try to dissolve PEO in the combination water/ethanol or water/methanol at a temperature which is not low & not high. I suggest warm solvent mixture, say at 40- 50 oC . Try first 0.1g polymer in 10 ml. solvent mixture in stoppered test tube overnight. If you see, a clear solution in the next day then it is fine. If not, change the concentration up or down but not far from (0.1 in 10). Best wishes for success.

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Darren Farley  Follow

Thank you so very much Dr. Nizar

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Colten Brewster  Follow

Theoretically speaking, your PEO has a high molecular weight but it must be soluble in water. However, PEO forms viscous, chewy solutions in water at concentrations less than 1 wt %. Solutions of higher concentrations are elastic gels. At 20 wt % solids, the solutions are hard & tough water-plasticized polymers. Near the boiling point of water, the water solubility decreases, phase separation can occur, and the solution can become cloudy.
My advice is to use a mixture of solvents instead of a single solvent. Try to dissolve PEO in the combination water/ethanol or water/methanol at a temperature which is not low & not high. I suggest warm solvent mixture, say at 40- 50 oC . Try first 0.1g polymer in 10 ml. solvent mixture in stoppered test tube overnight. If you see, a clear solution in the next day then it is fine. If not, change the concentration up or down but not far from (0.1 in 10). Best wishes for success.

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