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Thermodynamic stability of the ordered conformations of carrageenan polyelectrolytes
Author(s) -
Paoletti Sergio,
Smidsrod Olav,
Grasdalen Hans
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.360230911
Subject(s) - chemistry , counterion condensation , counterion , polyelectrolyte , intramolecular force , enthalpy , ionic bonding , thermodynamics , condensation , ionic strength , chemical physics , crystallography , computational chemistry , stereochemistry , ion , polymer , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , physics
Manning's counterion condensation theory has been applied to the temperature‐induced conformational transition of κ‐ and ι‐carrageenan in the solution and gel states. The formalism of the theory has been extended to transitions between conformations with charge densities below or across the counterion condensation threshold. Measurements of the dependence of the melting temperature on ionic strength, and of the enthalpy of melting, are interpreted with the theory as indicating that the conformational transition is intramolecular and that side‐by‐side dimerization of chains gives rise to the gel structure.