Complementary mobile-phase optimisation for resolution enhancement in high-performance liquid chromatography

An optimisation methodology in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is presented for the selection of two or more mobile phases having an optimal complementary resolution. The complementary mobile phases (CMPs) are selected in such a way that each one resolves optimally only some compounds in the mixture, while the remainder, resolved by the other mobile phase(s), can overlap among them. The methodology is based on the computation of a peak purity measurement for each solute, using an asymmetrical peak model for peak simulation. Two global resolution criteria (product of elementary resolutions and worst elementary resolution) and two methods for solving the problem (a systematic examination of all possible solute arrangements, and the use of genetic algorithms to expedite the calculation time) were used to find the optimal CMPs. The CMP optimisation methodology was applied to the resolution of a mixture of 10 diuretics and beta-blockers, which could not be resolved using a single mobile phase; virtual baseline resolution was achieved, however, with two CMPs.     

Stationary and mobile phases in hydrophilic interaction chromatography: a review

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) is valuable alternative to reversed-phase liquid chromatography separations of polar, weakly acidic or basic samples. In principle, this separation mode can be characterized as normal-phase chromatography on polar columns in aqueous-organic mobile phases rich in organic solvents (usually acetonitrile). Highly organic HILIC mobile phases usually enhance ionization in the electrospray ion source of a mass spectrometer, in comparison to mobile phases with higher concentrations of water generally used in reversed-phase (RP) LC separations of polar or ionic compounds, which is another reason for increasing popularity of this technique. Various columns can be used in the HILIC mode for separations of peptides, proteins, oligosaccharides, drugs, metabolites and various natural compounds: bare silica gel, silica-based amino-, amido-, cyano-, carbamate-, diol-, polyol-, zwitterionic sulfobetaine, or poly(2-sulphoethyl aspartamide) and other polar stationary phases chemically bonded on silica gel support, but also ion exchangers or zwitterionic materials showing combined HILIC-ion interaction retention mechanism. Some stationary phases are designed to enhance the mixed-mode retention character. Many polar columns show some contributions of reversed phase (hydrophobic) separation mechanism, depending on the composition of the mobile phase, which can be tuned to suit specific separation problems. Because the separation selectivity in the HILIC mode is complementary to that in reversed-phase and other modes, combinations of the HILIC, RP and other systems are attractive for two-dimensional applications. This review deals with recent advances in the development of HILIC phase separation systems with special attention to the properties of stationary phases. The effects of the mobile phase, of sample structure and of temperature on separation are addressed, too.     

Micellar bile salt mobile phases for the liquid chromatographic separation of routine compounds and optical, geometrical, and structural isomers

Aqueous solutions of bile salts, i.e. sodium cholate (NaC), sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), and sodium taurocholate (NaTC), are characterized and evaluated as reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) mobile phases. The separation of the ASTM-recommended RPLC test mix in addition to more than 50 other compounds on a C18 column demonstrates the viability of these bile salts as HPLC mobile phases. The Armstrong-Nome theory was applied and found to adequately describe the partitioning behavior of solutes eluted with these bile salts at low surfactant concentrations. The effect of alcohol additives on chromatographic retention and efficiency was also assessed. Not only are the bile salt molecules rigid and chiral, but they form helical micellar aggregates as well. Consequently, many isomeric compounds can be easily resolved with this mobile phase additive. The base-line resolution of some binaphthyl-type enantiomers with a standard C18 column and the bile salt micellar mobile phases is also demonstrated. In addition, these bile salt mobile phases may be preferable to conventional hydroorganic mobile phase systems for the separation of many classes of routine compounds. A brief prospectus on the future utilization of bile salts in liquid chromatography is presented.     

硅胶色谱柱的亲水作用保留机理及其影响因素

亲水作用色谱（HILIC）是替代反相色谱（RPLC）分离强极性及亲水性化合物的另一色谱模式,其分离机理与RPLC有很大不同,具有和RPLC互补的选择性。在HILIC模式中,采用正相色谱（NPLC）中的极性固定相及含高浓度有机溶剂（通常为乙腈）的水溶液为流动相。硅胶是开发最早、研究最为深入及应用最为广泛的HILIC固定相,本文介绍了硅胶色谱柱的HILIC保留机理,详细概述了操作条件如硅胶柱类型、流动相组成及柱温对HILIC分离的影响,并对硅胶填料色谱柱的HILIC模式的发展方向与应用前景进行了展望。     

Characterization of enhanced-fluidity liquid hydrophilic interaction chromatography for the separation of nucleosides and nucleotides

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) is a liquid chromatographic separation mechanism commonly used for polar biological molecules. The use of enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography (EFLC) with mixtures of methanol/water/carbon dioxide is compared to acetonitrile/water mobile phases for the separation of nucleosides and nucleotides under HILIC conditions. Enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography involves using common mobile phases with the addition of substantial proportions of a dissolved gas which provides greater mobile phase diffusivity and lower viscosity. The impact of varying several experimental parameters, including temperature, addition of base, salt, and CO₂ was studied to provide optimized HILIC separations. Each of these parameters plays a key role in the retention of the analytes, which demonstrates the complexity of the retention mechanism in HILIC. The tailing of phosphorylated compounds was overcome with the use of phosphate salts and the addition of a strong base; efficiency and peak asymmetry were compared with the addition of either triethylamine (TEA), 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO) or 1,5-diazabicyclo [4.3.0] non-5-ene (DBN). DBN and DABCO both led to increased efficiency and lower peak asymmetry; DBN provided the best results. Sodium chloride and carbon dioxide were added to enhance the selectivity between the analytes, giving a successful isocratic separation of nucleosides and nucleotides within 8 min. The retention mechanism involved in EFL-HILIC was explored by varying the temperature and the mole fraction of CO₂. These studies showed that partitioning was the dominant mechanism. The thermodynamics study confirmed that the solvent strength is maintained in EFLC and that a change in entropy was mainly responsible for the improved selectivity. The selectivity using methanol/water/carbon dioxide varied greatly compared to that obtained with acetonitrile/water. Finally while this study highlights the optimization of EFL-HILIC for the separation of nucleosides and nucleotides under isocratic conditions, this is also an example of the broad range of polarities of compounds that EFL-HILIC can separate.     

手性有机磷化合物液相拆分的研究进展

 综述了近年来手性有机磷化合物液相拆分的研究进展。对间接拆分和直接拆分法,特别是各类手性固定相法在拆分有机磷化合物中的应用作了介绍,探讨了相应的拆分机理。85篇。     

亲水/反相二维制备液相色谱法分离纯化络石藤中的化学成分

建立了亲水/反相二维制备液相色谱(Pre-2D-HILIC/RPLC)分离纯化络石藤中化学成分的分析方法。络石藤药材经醇提、活性炭脱色后用反相固相萃取柱除去色素和强极性物质,最终得到干燥的浅黄色粉末。一维亲水色谱选择Click XIon色谱柱(250 mm×20 mm,10μm)作为固定相,水和乙腈作为流动相,进行梯度洗脱,以紫外触发模式收集馏分,共得到15个组分。二维反相色谱选择C18色谱柱(250 mm×20 mm,5μm)作为固定相,水和乙腈作为流动相,进行梯度洗脱,最终得到14个高纯度化合物,并通过质谱和核磁共振对其进行确认。实验结果表明,该法具有良好的正交选择性,可以有效提高分离度和峰容量,对于分离络石藤等复杂样品具有重要意义。     

Separation of the enantiomers of 4-aryl-7,7-dimethyl- and 1,7,7-trimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroquinazoline-2,5-diones by chiral HPLC

Summary Analytical HPLC methods using derivatized cellulose chiral stationary phases have been developed for separation of the enantiomers of 25 racemic 4-aryl-7,7-dimethyl- or 1,77-trimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroquinazoline-2,5-diones, condensed derivatives of dihydropyrimidines. The enantiomers of the compounds were resolved by normal-phase chromatography on silica-based cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OD) and amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralpak AD) columns with mobile phases consisting of mixtures ofn-hexane and an alcohol (2-propanol, ethanol, or methanol) in different proportions. The mobile phase and the chiral stationary phase were varied to achieve the best resolution. The effect of the concentration of alcohol in the mobile phase was studied. The resolution obtained on the two columns was complementary.     

Enantioseparations of basic and bifunctional pharmaceuticals by capillary electrochromatography using polysaccharide stationary phases

A fast screening strategy was developed in capillary electrochromatography (CEC) for the chiral separation of basic and bifunctional compounds. The screening conditions were determined on polysaccharide chiral stationary phases using 15 pharmaceutical compounds. The content and type of organic modifier, as well as the pH of the mobile phase appeared to have the largest influence on the chiral resolution. It was seen that for acidic compounds, our approach was not suitable. A generic mobile phase for basic and bifunctional compounds was determined. The testing on 20 additional compounds showed that the proposed mobile phase performed well since enantioselectivity was observed for 86% of the investigated compounds. A comparison of CEC and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) results was attempted to demonstrate the potential of the used technique for chiral method development.     

Use of a three-factor interpretive optimisation strategy in the development of an isocratic chromatographic procedure for the screening of diuretics in urine samples using micellar mobile phases

Screening of diuretics in urine is feasible through direct injection of the samples into the chromatographic system and isocratic reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with micellar-organic mobile phases of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 1-propanol. The surfactant coverage of the chromatographic column makes the addition of organic competing amines less necessary than in conventional aqueous-organic RPLC to achieve well-shaped peaks. Also, the range of elution strengths of micellar mobile phases required to elute mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic diuretics is smaller. This allows the isocratic separation of the diuretics within adequate analysis times. An interpretive methodology is applied to optimise the resolution of a mixture of 15 diuretics of diverse polarity and acid-base behaviour (althiazide, amiloride, bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide, bumetanide, canrenoic acid, chlorthalidone, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, piretanide, probenecid, torasemide, triamterene, trichloromethiazide and xipamide), using pH and concentrations of surfactant and organic modifier in the mobile phase as separation factors. Twelve diuretics were resolved in 25 min using 0.055 M SDS-6.0% 1-propanol at pH 3.0. The mixture of 15 diuretics was also resolved with two mobile phases showing complementary behaviour: 0.05 M SDS-5.6% 1-propanol at pH 5.4 and 0.11 M SDS-5.4% 1-propanol at pH 4.2. The results were applied to the analysis of urine samples with limits of detection similar to those usually reported for aqueous-organic RPLC, taking into account that the samples were injected without any previous treatment to separate or preconcentrate the analytes.     

Speciation of arsenic compounds by HPLC with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection

An arsenic specific detection system utilizing on-line microwave digestion and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (MD/HGAAS) is described for arsenic speciation by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both ion exchange chromatography and ion pair chromatography have been studied for the separation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA), and arsenobetaine (AB). When the commonly used mobile phases, phosphate and carbonate buffers at pH 7.5, are used on an anion exchange column, arsenite and AB co-elute. However, selective determination of these two arsenic compounds can be achieved by using the new detection system. Partial separation between arsenite and AB can be achieved by increasing the mobile phase pH to 10.3 and by using a polymer based anion exchange column. The detection limit obtained by using anion exchange chromatography with MD/HGAAS detection is approximately 10 ng/ml (or 200 pg for a 20-mul sample injection) for arsenite, DMAA and AB, 15 ng/ml (or 300 pg) for MMAA, and 20 ng/ml (or 400 pg) for arsenate. Complete separation of the five arsenic compounds is achieved on a reversed phase C18 column by using sodium heptanesulfonate as ion pair reagent. Comparable resolution between chromatographic peaks is obtained by using MD/HGAAS detection and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) detection.     

Finding the best separation in situations of extremely low chromatographic resolution

Samples with a large number of compounds or similarities in their structure and polarity may yield insufficient chromatographic resolution. In such cases, however, finding conditions where the largest number of compounds appears sufficiently resolved can be still worthwhile. A strategy is here reported that optimises the resolution level of chromatograms in cases where conventional global criteria, such as the worst resolved peak pair or the product of elementary resolutions, are not able to detect any separation, even when most peaks are baseline resolved. The strategy applies a function based on the number of "well resolved" peaks, which are those that exceed a given threshold of peak purity. It is, therefore, oriented to quantify the success in the separation, and not the failure, as the conventional criteria do. The conditions that resolve the same amount of peaks are discriminated by either quantifying the partial resolution of those peaks that exceed the established threshold, or by improving the separation of peaks below it. The proposed approach is illustrated by the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of a mixture of 30 ionisable and neutral compounds, using the acetonitrile content and pH as factors.     

Improved separation of furocoumarins of essential oils by supercritical fluid chromatography

Separation of furocoumarins has become of a great interest for cosmetic industry and human health, since the recent directive of the European Union. Furocoumarins are a class of compounds presenting varied substituents linked mainly in two positions to an identical skeleton made by a furan ring bonded to a coumarin nucleus (Psoralen). The substituents are mainly methoxy, or alkyl chains, which can contain double bonds, hydroxyl or epoxy groups. Due to the variety of compounds, and their subtle structure differences, their separation requires high-performance methods. Multi-gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and two-dimensional chromatography are usually applied. This paper describes a new approach, by using super/subcritical fluid chromatography (SFC), with a green mobile phase: CO₂–ethanol. The choice of the stationary phase from varied types of phases, and the effects of numerous analytical parameters (flow rate, modifier percentage, temperature and outlet pressure) are studied, described and discussed, on the basis of the separation of a complex sample: lemon residue. From these studies, isocratic conditions are determined to obtain a satisfactory separation in 10 min. A two-dimensional analysis was also investigated, by performing first a class fractionation of compounds on an ethylpyridine (EP) phase, then by separating each class on a pentafluorophenyl phase (Discovery HS F5) with the selected isocratic mobile phase. A gradient elution is also studied to improve separation of some minor compounds. Structure of the eluted compounds was determined by comparison with standards, HPLC-DAD, HPLC–MS analysis, and NMR analysis of collected fractions. All these approaches allow relating structure of compounds to retention behaviour, which is unusual due to the selected pentafluorophenyl stationary phase.     

An evaluation of reversed-phase and ion-exchange chromatography for use with inductively coupled plasma—mass spectrometry for the determination of organotin compounds

An evaluation of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employing mobile phases compatible with direct coupling to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is described for the selective and sensitive detection of organotin species. The findings of this study are compared with established methods, employing ion-exchange chromatography. In order to achieve optimum performance, both the HPLC and ICP-MS were optimized for speciation work. The results from studies using various mobile phases for the separation of a range of tin compounds (inorganic tin, tributyltin, dibutyltin and monobutyltin) are discussed both in terms of resolution and compatibility with ICP-MS instrumentation. Tropolone, a commonly used complexing agent for organotin species, is also discussed with reference to the chromatographic separation of tin species. Finally, the role of isotope dilution analysis in conjunction with HPLC-ICP-MS for organotin speciation is described with respect to the European Community Standards, Measurements and Testing (BCR) certified material programme.     

Secondary isotope effects in liquid chromatography behaviour of 2H and 3H labelled solutes and solvents

The separation of solutes that differ only in the extent of isotopic substitution of their hydrogen atoms, using either mixtures of isotopically non-modified or perdeuterated solvents as mobile phases, is described. The occurrence of a secondary isotope effect is demonstrated in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, which is independent of the nature of the stationary phase (different octadecyl-bonded silicas, an embedded alkylamide-bonded silica, as well as one polymeric stationary phase were tested), and the water content and the nature of organic modifier of the mobile phase. The separation of 24 structurally different isotopologue pairs (apolar compounds and polar compounds with exchangeable or non-exchangeable hydrogen atoms) is examined using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. It is found that the greater the number of isotopically substituted hydrogen atoms in a given organic solute, the better is the separation of a particular isotopologue pair. The single secondary isotope effect is shown to be dependent on the number of isotopic substitutions. The greater the number of these substitutions, the smaller is the single isotope effect. The single secondary isotope effect is higher for aromatic hydrocarbons than for aliphatic hydrocarbons. A secondary isotope effect is also observed in chiral chromatography and normal-phase liquid chromatography, as well as on changing the nature of the substituting isotope, i.e.: tritium instead of deuterium. Thus, we have demonstrated that the total secondary isotopic effect for hydrogen/tritium is higher than for hydrogen/deuterium. This isotope effect involves only the consequences of changes in interactions due to nuclear motions. Overall this study confirms the predominance of hydrophobic effects in retention processes in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. In reversed-phase liquid chromatography, a secondary isotope effect related to mobile phase composition is also observed. The behaviour of deuterium oxide and water in mobile phases of the same composition (%, w/w) is compared. Independent of the nature of the organic modifier (methanol, acetonitrile or ethanol), the effect of replacing H2O with 2H2O in the mobile phase, is an increase in the retention factors and an improvement in the chromatographic resolution of isotopologue pairs. This increase in the resolution is not accompanied by a change in the chromatographic selectivity. The measurement of liquid-liquid extraction coefficients proves that the effect is mainly due to the modification of the phase ratio. In general the effect of 2H-labelled solvents (2H2O and C2H3CN) as mobile phase components, compared to their isotopically non-modified isomers, can be rationalized on the basis of their lower polarisabilities. Overall the use of perdeuterated rather than isotopically non-modified solvents as mobile phase components leads to the most efficient separation systems.     

亲水作用色谱固定相及其在中药分离中的应用

亲水作用色谱(HILIC)作为一种分离极性化合物的液相色谱模式,近年来越来越受到关注和重视。一方面是因为强极性化合物的分离问题引起了各个研究领域的重视,如药物分析、代谢组学、蛋白质组学等研究领域都不同程度地涉及强极性化合物的分离问题;另一方面是由于HILIC具有流动相组成简单、分离效率较高、与质谱兼容以及反压较低等优势。固定相是HILIC发展和应用的基础,本文主要从固定相分子结构的角度对HILIC固定相的结构特征、保留特性以及应用概况等进行了综述。对传统正相色谱固定相用于HILIC以及专门设计的HILIC固定相进行了介绍,评述了各自的优缺点和应用概况;对近年来HILIC固定相在中药分离中的应用进行了介绍;并对HILIC固定相的发展进行了展望。     

An insight into the use of dimethylphenyl carbamate cyclofructan 7 chiral stationary phase in supercritical fluid chromatography: The basic comparison with HPLC

Cyclofructan‐based chiral stationary phases were previously shown as a promising possibility for separation of chiral compounds in high performance liquid chromatography. In this work retention and enantiodiscrimination properties of the 3,5‐dimethylphenyl carbamate cyclofructan 7 chiral stationary phase are described in supercritical fluid chromatography. The results obtained in both of the separation methods were compared. A set of compounds with axial or central chirality was used as analytes. The effect of mobile phase composition, that is, addition of different alcohol modifiers and/or trifluoroacetic acid to carbon dioxide, was examined in the supercritical system. Similarly, mobile phases composed of hexane modified with propan‐2‐ol and/or trifluoracetic acid were used in liquid chromatography. A linear free energy relationship model was utilized for characterization of interactions that are decisive for retention and separation in both techniques. Dispersion interactions showed similar negative values using both methods. The main contribution of hydrogen bond acidity was also comparable for both methods. The propensity to interact with n‐ and/or π‐electron pairs of solutes was significant only in the supercritical system.     

亲水作用色谱填料的研究进展

亲水作用色谱是一种新型的色谱分离模式.此类色谱模式集反相色谱的经济廉价与正相色谱的优点于一体,有效补充了反相色谱的不足.简单介绍实验室中合成的新型亲水色谱固定相.