Influence of side chain structure on sorption of xenon and carbon dioxide gas by polypeptide membranes

Abstract

The influence of side chain structure on sorption of xenon and carbon dioxide gas by polypeptides is examined in two ways: chemical structure of side chain and higher order structure of the side chain region. Sorption of xenon gas increases progressively with increase in side chain length of poly(n-alkyl L-glutamates). The sorption isotherms of a polymer at various temperatures are reduced to one curve when the data are arranged in the form of sorption per residue versus fugacity ratio (as activity). The sorption of carbon dioxide gas shows a minimum at an intermediate length of side chains, corresponding to poly(n-propyl or n-butyl glutamate). The behavior is considered the result of overlapping influences of looseness of the side chain region and density of polar groups. The Langmuir constants and the enthalpy and entropy of sorption explain this quantitatively. Sorption of carbon dioxide gas is influenced by the higher-order structure of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate). In this polymer, the benzyl ester part is the main sorption site, and it was confirmed that the stacking between side-chain benzene rings significantly reduces the extent of sorption.