It was revealed that the intimate relationship between molecular size of cationic polymer and porous diameter of absorbent existed with regard to adsorption-desorption of cationic polymer onto porous absorbent.
Polyelectrolyte can develop changes within the macromolecules when subjected to pH changes in their environments.If a sudden increase in the dimensions of the adsorbed polyelectrolytes occurs as the pH of their environment changes, some of the macromolecules within the adsorbents will become greater in size than their containing pore.Thus, they will be trapped within pore.This was clearly demonstrated with protein adsorption onto cellulosic materials, such as α-cellulose, cotton ball, glassine paper, microcrystal cellulose and beated pulp fiber. Moreover, the cationic polymer retained fiber remarkably increased dyeability and stability of direct dye. In addition to this, the fungicidal polymer which was synthesized by adducting pentachlorophenol to the side chains of polyethylenimine was irreversibly retained on the cellulosic fiber and the polymer treated fibers exhibited antifungus properties for a long period.