I synthesized the polymer using DMF as the solvent. After synthesis, I precipitated the polymer in IPA. I think this solution is a colloidal solution. If my assumption is correct, how can I precipitate it?
To precipitate a polymer from a colloid solution, you can use a technique called coagulation. This involves adding a coagulant to the solution, causing the polymer particles to come together and form larger clumps that can be easily separated from the solution. In your case, since you used DMF as the solvent and IPA for precipitation, you can slowly add a larger volume of a non-solvent like water to the IPA solution. This change in the composition of the solvent can lead to the polymer particles becoming insoluble and precipitating out of the solution. Once the polymer particles have formed clumps, you can then filter or centrifuge the solution to separate the precipitated polymer from the liquid.
Sweta Mehra Oleg Novikov When I add water after precipitating the polymer in IPA, the colloidal solution becomes transparent. I can't see any precipitation.
If adding water to the IPA solution makes it transparent, it's possible that the polymer may have re-dissolved in the water due to the change in solvent conditions. In that case, you can try adding a different non-solvent that is less miscible with water, such as a different organic solvent like hexane or diethyl ether. This may help to induce precipitation of the polymer from the solution.