Dynamic permeation method to determine partition coefficients of highly hydrophobic chemicals between poly(dimethylsiloxane) and water

Measurement of partition coefficients between poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and water (KPDMSw) becomes more and more difficult as the hydrophobicity of the compound increases. Experimental challenges include long extraction times, sorption to various surfaces and materials, and incomplete dissolution of the compound in the aqueous phase.

In order to avoid these artifacts and to shorten experimental time, a dynamic permeation method was developed. According to steady-state diffusion theory, KPDMSw is inversely proportional to the permeation rate through the aqueous boundary layer (ABL) from the donor PDMS to the acceptor PDMS. A simple ABL permeation reactor can thus be applied to determine KPDMSw values of hydrophobic chemicals within a few days.

The obtained values were in good agreement with those obtained using a conventional shaking method and the partition controlled delivery system. A good linear correlation was obtained between the logarithm of the 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) from the literature and log KPDMSw over 6 orders of magnitude.