A unified classification of stationary phases for packed column supercritical fluid chromatography

The use of supercritical fluids as chromatographic mobile phases allows to obtain rapid separations with high efficiency on packed columns, which could favour the replacement of numerous HPLC methods by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) ones. Moreover, despite some unexpected chromatographic behaviours, general retention rules are now well understood, and mainly depend on the nature of the stationary phase. The use of polar stationary phases improves the retention of polar compounds, when C18-bonded silica favours the retention of hydrocarbonaceous compounds. In this sense, reversed-phase and normal-phase chromatography can be achieved in SFC, as in HPLC. However, these two domains are clearly separated in HPLC due to the opposite polarity of the mobile phases used for each method. In SFC, the same mobile phase can be used with both polar and non-polar stationary phases. Consequently, the need for a novel classification of stationary phases in SFC appears, allowing a unification of the classical reversed- and normal-phase domains. In this objective, the paper presents the development of a five-dimensional classification based on retention data for 94-111 solutes, using 28 commercially available columns representative of three major types of stationary phases. This classification diagram is based on a linear solvation energy relationship, on the use of solvation vectors and the calculation of similarity factors between the different chromatographic systems. This classification will be of great help in the choice of the well-suited stationary phase, either in regards of a particular separation or to improve the coupling of columns with complementary properties.     

Characterization of stationary phases based on monosubstituted benzene retention indices using correspondence factor analysis and linear solvation energy relationships in RPLC

In reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), the comparison of experimental results obtained from different columns is a complex problem. A correspondence factor analysis (CFA) and a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) were applied on retention data to characterize second-order intermolecular interactions responsible for retention on a set of RPLC columns. Seven octadecyl-C₁₈ columns with different packing materials are obtained from different manufacturers and one octyl-C₈ column. The retention data were determined under isocratic conditions using a methanol–water (65:35, v/v) mobile phase. The chromatographic retention indices based on alkan-2-ones and alkyl aryl ketones retention index scales are calculated using a multiparametric least-squares regressions iterative method. The CFA and LSER results permitted to highlight that the retention indices were appropriate for studying the second-order retention mechanisms on the eight chromatographic systems investigated and exhibited the best reproducibility. Although many earlier studies have reported the use of chemometric methods to characterize chemical factors affecting retention in RPLC using retention factors as retention parameters, this is the first study based on retention indices.     

L-异亮氨酸键合色谱固定相的制备及其性能

利用异氰酸丙基三乙氧基硅烷与L-异亮氨酸反应合成了一种新型的硅烷偶联剂,并进一步将其与硅胶反应制得键合有L-异亮氨酸的亲水色谱固定相。 通过核磁共振氢谱表明亮氨酸功能化硅烷偶联剂的成功合成、元素分析表征证明亮氨酸已成功键合到硅胶表面。 将其作为亲水模式下的固定相填料填装在150 mm×4.6 mm不锈钢色谱柱中,以一系列经典的极性小分子作为探针,考察了这些探针分子在固定相上的色谱行为。 极性化合物的保留时间随着流动相中有机溶剂含量提高而逐渐增大,表现出典型的亲水保留特征。 进一步研究了流动相中乙腈含量、缓冲盐pH值及缓冲盐浓度等因素对分析物在固定相上的保留的影响。 在优化了相关参数后,将固定相应用于碱性化合物、水溶性维生素以及核苷类极性物质的分离当中。 在等度洗脱下,5种碱性化合物、6种水溶性维生素和8种核苷类物质分别在8、18及25 min内被成功分离。 分离结果表明了合成的L-异亮氨酸键合亲水色谱固定相具有较好的色谱性能,在极性化合物的分离上具有良好的应用前景。     

Direct determination of 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride by high-performance liquid chromatography based on silanophilic interaction

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method without prederivatization was investigated for the direct determination of 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride and 4-nitrobenzoic acid. The separation was carried out on C₃, C₈ and C₁₈ alkyl-bonded silica columns with cyclohexane-tetrahydrofuran as the eluent. The retention behaviour observed was obviously caused by the silanophilic interaction between the solute and stationary phase. Optimum separation of 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride and 4-nitrobenzoic acid was obtained on the C₃ column and the calibration graph showed a significant linear relationship. The method was found to be quantitative, reproducible and rapid.     

Evaluation of an amide‐based stationary phase for supercritical fluid chromatography

A relatively new stationary phase containing a polar group embedded in a hydrophobic backbone (i.e., ACE ® C18‐amide) was evaluated for use in supercritical fluid chromatography. The amide‐based column was compared with columns packed with bare silica, C₁₈ silica, and a terminal‐amide silica phase. The system was held at supercritical pressure and temperature with a mobile phase composition of CO₂ and methanol as cosolvent. The linear solvation energy relationship model was used to evaluate the behavior of these stationary phases, relating the retention factor of selected probes to specific chromatographic interactions. A five‐component test mixture, consisting of a group of drug‐like molecules was separated isocratically. The results show that the C₁₈‐amide stationary phase provided a combination of interactions contributing to the retention of the probe compounds. The hydrophobic interactions are favorable; however, the electron donating ability of the embedded amide group shows a large positive interaction. Under the chromatographic conditions used, the C₁₈‐amide column was able to provide baseline resolution of all the drug‐like probe compounds in a text mixture, while the other columns tested did not.     

Chromatographic retention behaviour, modelling and separation optimisation of the quaternary ammonium salt isometamidium chloride and related compounds on a range of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic stationary phases

This paper describes the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic behaviour of the trypanocidal quaternary ammonium salt isometamidium chloride and its related compounds on a range of liquid chromatographic phases possessing alkyl and phenyl ligands on the same inert silica. In a parallel study with various extended polar selectivity phases which possessed different hydrophobic/silanophilic (hydrogen bonding) activity ratios, the chromatographic retention/selectivities of the quaternary ammonium salts was shown to be due to a co-operative mechanism between hydrophobic and silanophilic interactions. The highly aromatic and planar isometamidium compounds were found to be substantially retained on stationary phases containing aromatic functionality via strong π-π interactions. The chemometric approach of principal component analysis was used to characterise the chromatographic behaviour of the isometamidium compounds on the differing phases and to help identify the dominant retention mechanism(s). Two-dimensional (temperature/gradient) retention modelling was employed to develop and optimise a rapid liquid chromatography method for the separation of the six quaternary ammonium salts within 2.5 min which would be suitable for bioanalysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This is the first reported systematic study of the relationship between stationary phase chemistries and retention/selectivity for a group of quaternary ammonium salts.     

Synthesis and characterization of new organometallic complexes bonded stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary The preparation, characterization and potential liquid chromatographic applications of various organometallic iron complexes silica stationary phases are presented. These new supports are synthesized by covalently linking ferrocene, as well as some of its cationic derivatives, to appropriately derivatized silica support matrices. These columns exhibit moderate to high selectivity towards the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A charge transfer retention mechanism has been proposed. A comparison with a reference stationary phase, 3,5-dinitrobenzamide (DNB), to quantify the acceptor power of the new stationary bonded phases, is also reported. Finally, the effect of varying the derivatives of the bonded metallocene on PAHs retention is discussed.     

Retention and selectivity tests of silica-based and metal-oxide bonded stationary phases for RP-HPLC

Chromatographic properties of silica-, zirconia- and alumina-based columns with octadecyl-, polyethylene glycol- and pentafluorophenylpropyl-bonded stationary phases were tested. Selectivities of nine columns for LC were characterized using chromatographic methods including Walters, Engelhardt, Tanaka and Galushko hydrophobicity and silanol activity tests, measurements of methylene selectivity in various aqueous-methanol and aqueous-acetonitrile mobile phases and of gradient lipophilic capacity as a measure of the effect of the sample hydrophobicity on gradient-elution separations. A semi-empirical interaction indices model, assuming a predominant role of the solvophobic interactions of test compounds with different polarities, was compared with the linear free energy relationships approach taking into account selective polar interactions. The interaction indices model was applied to both non-polar stationary phases bonded on silica, alumina and zirconia supports, and to the non-modified adsorbents in the normal-phase LC. The retention data of isomeric naphthalene disulfonic acids were used to compare the attractive and repulsive ionic interactions of the columns in purely aqueous mobile phases. The results of the hydrophobicity and polarity tests were consistent, and allowed column characterization and classification. Silanol activity was important with octadecyl silica columns, but was relatively insignificant with bonded polyethylene glycol and pentafluorophenylpropyl phases on silica gel support. Polar interactions with the alumina and zirconia support materials significantly affect the retention.     

Properties of two amide‐based hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography columns

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography is a separation technique suitable for the separation of moderately and highly polar compounds. Various stationary phases (SPs) for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography are commercially available. While the SPs based on the same type of ligand are available from different providers, they can display a distinct retention characteristics and separation selectivity. The current work is focused on characterization and comparison of the separation systems of two amide‐based HPLC columns from two producers, i.e. XBridge Amide column and TSK gel Amide‐80 column. Several characterization procedures (tests) were used to investigate the differences between these columns. The chromatographic behavior of selected analytes indicates that multimodal interactions are responsible for retention and separation on these columns. Multiple testing approaches were used in order to reveal subtle differences between the SPs. Both amide‐based columns showed certain differences in retention, selectivity, and plate counts. Based on the tests used in this study, we conclude that the investigated columns provide a different degree of H‐bonding interactions.     

Improvement of the chromatographic separation performance of an imidazolium ionic liquid functionalized silica column by in situ anion‐exchange with dodecyl sulfonate and dodecylbenzene sulfonate anions

The anionic part of ionic liquids can provide additional interactions during chromatographic separations. In this work, the chromatographic separation performance of a silica column functionalized with 1‐propyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid was improved by in situ anion‐exchange from chloride anions to dodecyl sulfonate anions and dodecylbenzene sulfonate anions. The separation performances of these ionic liquid functionalized phases were investigated and compared with each other using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, parabens, and phenols as model compounds. Results indicated that the new columns presented a better chromatographic separation than the original one. This was ascribed retention mechanism from organic anions. The introduction of dodecyl sulfonate anions increased the hydrophobicity of stationary phase. Furthermore, the phenyl groups of dodecylbenzene sulfonate anions could provide an enhanced selectivity to aromatic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by π–π interactions. Analysis repeatability of the new columns was satisfactory (RSD of retention time, 0.10–0.40%; RSD of peak area, 0.66–0.84%).     

Titania-coated monolithic silica as separation medium for high performance liquid chromatography of phosphorus-containing compounds

A method of preparing titania-coated monolithic silica stationary phase has been developed to achieve liquid chromatographic separation of phosphorus-containing compounds, which have recently been attracting increasing attention in biochemical research. The titania-coated silica columns exhibited efficient separation with low pressure drop, which is a typical feature of monolithic structures, and also possessed phospho-selectivity, which is a unique property of the titania surface. The material characteristics of titania-coated monolithic silica were examined, and then resin-clad columns were applied to the HPLC analysis of phosphorylated compounds. Highly efficient separation of phosphorylated substances indicated that the novel titania-coated monolithic silica column will find applications as a useful tool in the field of biochemistry, especially in post-genomic analyses.     

Study of a monolithic silica capillary column coated with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) for the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of some polar and non-polar compounds

The performance of a monolithic silica capillary column coated with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) (ODM column) for the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of some polar and non-polar compounds was studied, and the results were compared to those obtained by using a monolithic silica capillary column modified with octadecylsilyl-(N,N-diethylamino)silane (ODS column). Benzene and naphthalene derivatives, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), steroids, alkyl phthalates, and tocopherol homologues were used as test samples. In general, compounds with aromatic character, rigid and planar structures, and lower length-to-breadth ratios (more compacted structures) seem to have more preference for the polymer coated stationary phase (ODM). Compounds with acidic character have also a higher retention on ODM columns because of the presence of ester groups in the stationary phase. The polymer coated column allowed the separation of some PAHs, alkyl phthalates, steroids, and of beta- and gamma-tocopherol isomers which cannot be separated under the same conditions on ODS columns, while keeping similar column efficiency. These results allowed to suggest ODM columns as a good alternative to conventional ODS columns for reversed-phase liquid chromatography.     

Preparation and chromatographic evaluation of new branch-type diamide-embedded octadecyl stationary phase with enhanced shape selectivity

A novel branch-type diamide-embedded octadecyl stationary phase was prepared by facile amidation. The preparation of this new phase involves the synthesis of new bifunctional silane ligand and surface modification of spherical silica via anchoring of silane coupling agent. The obtained diamide-embedded octadecyl stationary phase demonstrated excellent hydrophobic selectivity, as well as enhanced shape and planarity selectivity in comparison to commercial polymeric and monomeric C₁₈ phases, respectively, as revealed by the systematic investigation into its liquid chromatographic retention of isomeric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The applicability of this new stationary phase was further testified by the effective separation of isomeric compounds belong to different chemical classes, including chain isomers of alkylbenzenes, and positional isomers of substituted aromatics. An in-depth analysis of the separation mechanisms other than molecular shape recognition involved in the new stationary phase was performed using a linear solvation energy relationships model and compared with its monoamide and pure C₁₈ counterparts correspondingly. The performance of the new stationary phase in quantitative analysis of phenols from real-world samples was also evaluated.     

The comparison of two column classification systems during the chromatographic analysis of steroids

Nowadays, due to the availability of hundreds of brands of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns, the selection of suitable columns can be difficult. Therefore, a good characterization and classification system is very important. Among published papers, the classification system based on quantitative structure-retention relationships and a method developed at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven also exist. In quantitative structure-retention relationships, retention is evaluated in terms of the chemical structure of the analytes and the physicochemical properties of both the stationary and mobile phase. The second system allows to rank columns due to the values of four parameters and the calculation of specific F(KUL)-values for a reference column and to be compared with others. In this paper, the classification systems based both on quantitative structure-retention relationships and the F(KUL)-values using principal components analysis were compared. Moreover, the proposed column ranking systems have been checked in clinical practice case considering liquid chromatography determination of six steroid hormones in urine samples. Despite that the matching of both methods is not exactly the same, both classification systems provide simple, reliable and comparable results.     

Chromatographic behavior of new deazapurine ribonucleosides in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

The chromatographic behavior of new biogenic purine nucleosides in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography was examined on three different stationary phases, namely bare silica, and amide‐ and cyclofructan‐based stationary phases. The effects of buffer concentration, pH and acetonitrile‐to‐aqueous‐part ratio in the mobile phase on retention and peak shape were assessed. The retention coefficients and peak symmetry values substantially differed with respect to analytes´ structures, stationary phase properties and mobile phase composition. The bare silica column was unsuitable for these compounds under the chromatographic conditions tested due to very broad and asymmetrical peaks. Furthermore, the cyclofructan‐based stationary phase provided almost Gaussian peak shapes of all deazapurine nucleosides under most conditions tested. Therefore, the cyclofructan‐based stationary phase is the most suitable choice for the chromatographic analysis of nucleosides.