• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.225-233
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• 2016

The chemical engrafting of polymers on particle surface, plays an important role on selective partitioning of micro/nano-particles in the separated layers of liquid media, such as aqueous two phase systems (ATPSs). Three polymers, dextran, poly (ethylene glycol) and albumin were chosen and chemically conjugated to the polystyrene (PS) magnetic microparticle surface. The attachment of long-chained polymer chains which may switch the partition behavior, can be simply performed by S_N2 substitution of various polymers having primary amine functional groups, with p-toluenesulfonyl (tosyl)-activated polystyrene magnetic micro-particles. The surface modification of microparticle was probed by infrared microscopy. The distinctive peak represents N-H stretching vibration mode for microparticles after the reaction and it is common for all three polymers examined. The locations of main peaks are similar for all micro-particles but different and distinguishable in fingerprint region.