Separation performance of graphene oxide as stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography

Graphene oxide(GO) has attracted extensive attention due to its unique properties and potential applications.Here,we report the investigation of GO nanosheets as a stationary phase for capillary gas chromatographic(GC) separations.The GO column,fabricated by a new one-step coating approach,showed average McReynolds constants of 308,suggesting the medium polar nature of the GC stationary phase.The GO stationary phase achieves good separation for analytes of different types with good peak shapes,especially for H-bonding analytes,such as alcohols and amines.The different retention behaviors of GO stationary phase from the conventional stationary phase may originate from its multiple interactions with analytes,involving H-bonding,dipole-dipole,π-π stacking and dispersive interactions.Moreover,GO column showed good separation reproducibility with relative standard deviation(RSD%) less than 0.24%(n = 5) on retention times of analytes.     

基于金属有机骨架材料固定相的气相色谱分离应用

金属有机骨架材料(MOFs)是一类由有机配体和金属离子(或金属簇)自组装形成的新型多功能材料。MOFs具有孔隙度高、比表面积大、孔径可调、化学和热稳定性高等特点,被广泛应用于吸附、分离、催化等多个领域。近年来,MOFs作为新型气相色谱固定相用于分离异构体受到了广泛关注。与传统无机多孔材料相比,MOFs在结构和功能上展现出高度的可调性,通过合理地选择配体和金属中心,可以设计合成具有不同孔道大小和孔道环境的MOFs,从而分别从热力学和动力学角度优化色谱分离效果,有效提高分离选择性。该文结合MOFs的结构,讨论了MOFs气相色谱固定相分离不同类型分析物的分离机理。分离机理主要包括MOFs孔道的分子筛效应或形状选择性,MOFs不饱和的金属位点与分析物中不同的官能团之间产生的相互作用,分析物与MOFs孔道之间产生的不同范德华力、π-π相互作用和氢键相互作用。此外,MOFs的手性分离可能主要依赖于外消旋体与手性MOFs中手性活性位点之间的相互作用。该文也对不同分析目标物进行了归类,综述了多种MOFs气相色谱固定相对烷烃、二甲苯异构体和乙基甲苯、外消旋体、含氧有机物、环境有机污染物的气相色谱分离效果。最后,该文还对MOFs在该领域的应用进行了总结与展望,旨在为MOFs气相色谱高效分离的研究提供参考。     

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles as an efficient stationary phase for open tubular gas chromatography using a square capillary model for chip-based gas chromatography in square cornered microfabricated channels

The application of a dodecanethiol monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle (MPN) stationary phase within a microchannel environment was explored using a square capillary column as a model for high-speed, microfabricated gas chromatography (microGC). Successful deposition and evaluation of a dodecanethiol MPN phase within a 1.3 m long, 100 microm x 100 microm square capillary is reported. The thickness of the MPN phase was evaluated using SEM analysis. An average thickness of 15 nm along the capillary walls was determined. While the film depth along the walls was very uniform, the corner depths were greater with the largest observed depth being 430 nm. Overall, an efficient chromatographic system was obtained with a minimum reduced plate height, h(min), of 1.2 for octane (k = 0.22). Characterization of the MPN column was completed using four compound classes (alkanes, alcohols, ketones, and aromatics) that were used to form a seven-component mixture with a 2-s separation. A mixture consisting of a nerve agent simulant in a sample containing analytes that may commonly interfere with detection was also separated in only 2 s, much faster than a similar separation previously reported using a microGC system requiring 50 s. A comparison of the MPN stationary phase to phases employed in previously reported microGC systems is also made. Application of the square capillary MPN column for a high-speed separation as the second column of a comprehensive 2-D gas chromatography system (GC x GC) was also explored.     

甘脲用作气相色谱固定相的色谱性能研究

甘脲具有双环双脲结构,既是质子给体,又是质子受体,能与溶质产生氢键作用等多种作用力。本文制备了以甘脲作为固定相的填充柱,并对它的色谱性能进行了研究。结果表明:甘脲固定相热稳定性高、柱性能稳定,是一种良好的气相色谱固定相。该固定相对烷烃、卤代烃、芳烃、醇、酯、酮、酸、胺等类物质具有良好的分离能力,尤其是对位置异构体(如二取代苯位置异构体)有较好的分离选择性。本文还初步探讨了甘脲固定相的分离机理。     

Exploitation of a microporous organic polymer as a stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography

Microporous organic polymers (MOPs) have emerged as a new class of functional porous materials with unique characteristics and potential uses in diverse areas. However, the field of MOPs for gas chromatographic (GC) separations has not been well explored. Herein, a MOP namely KAPs-1 was dynamic coated onto a capillary column for the first time. The fabricated column exhibited a nonpolar nature and the column efficiency for n-dodecane was up to 7769 plates m⁻¹. The KAPs-1 coated column showed high GC separation performance for a series of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including the challenging ethylbenzene and xylene isomers, which could not be resolved at baseline on the commercial 5% phenyl polysiloxane stationary phase. Moreover, the relative standard deviations for five replicate determinations of the studied analytes were 0.0–0.6%, 0.9–3.2%, 1.1–5.9%, 0.8–3.7% for retention time, peak area, peak height and peak width, respectively. To investigate the interaction between some analytes and the stationary phase, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were also evaluated. The results of this study show it is very promising to utilize MOPs as stationary phases for capillary GC.     

Separation performance of polydopamine-based cucurbit[7]uril stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography

Polydopamine(PDA) coating, a nature-inspired polymer, has attracted great attention in many areas due to its high adhesion strength and stability on almost all types of substrate surfaces. This work presents the first example of using PDA coating as a column pretreatment method in capillary gas chromatography(GC) and its employment in the column fabrication of cucurbit[7]uril(CB7) stationary phase. The fabricated PDA-CB7 column exhibited weakly polar nature and had advantages over CB7 column without PDA for the separations of some critical analytes in GC. This work demonstrates the advantage and potential of using PDA as a facile column pretreatment method in capillary GC column fabrication.     

Preparation and evaluation of nickelmesogen for micropacked gas chromatography

The preparation and mesomorphic properties of a substituted bis(dithiolene)nickel complex derived from 4, 4'-dimethoxybenzil are reported. The phase transition temperatures were based on data obtained by polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The mesogenic phase existed over the temperature range from 77 to 175 degrees C. A novel micropacked column (1.5 or 3 m x 1 mm i.d.) prepared from the slurry of bis[1,2-bis(4-n-undecyloxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-dithiolene] nickel(II) (5%, w/w), coated on Chromosorb W was applied for the separation of dialkyl sulfides. The non-linearity (discontinuity) of Van't Hoff plots suggests that the liquid crystal property existed even in the coated phase. Factors affecting the retention and the sample selectivity on the prepared column were examined by using a flame photometric detector (FPD). The separation might be based on the mechanism of ligand exchange, shape selectivity and polarity interaction besides the vapor pressure. LOD for the determination of dialkyl sulfides was below 1 ng for most of the analytes.     

Study of retention behaviour and mass spectrometry compatibility in zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction chromatography for the separation of modified nucleosides and nucleobases

A study has been made of the chromatographic behaviour of modified nucleosides and nucleobases using different stationary phases with functional groups of polar nature, all of them compatible with aquoorganic mobile phases. The stationary phases assayed were a pentafluorophenylpropyl (PFP) column for reverse phase separation, and another two for hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) separation. Six modified nucleosides and nucleobases (hydroxylated and methylated derivatives) were chosen as the target analytes. In the study, chromatographic resolution as well as the sensitivity in detection by mass spectrometry were taken into account. The results obtained showed that the zwitterionic (ZIC-HILIC) column was the most suitable one for the separation of these analytes. From the study of the different parameters affecting separation it may be concluded that in the ZIC-HILIC column separation is based on a mechanism of partition and interaction through weak electrostatic forces.     

硅藻土载负葫芦[7]脲气相色谱固定相的制备及其性能评价

在酸性条件下,将自制的葫芦[7]脲均匀地涂覆到102白色硅藻土担体上,制得葫芦[7]脲气相色谱固定相。 采用红外光谱、质谱、元素分析和热重分析表征了葫芦[7]脲在载体表面的结构。 利用相关探针测定了新固定相的麦氏常数,表征了其基本色谱性能。 考察了葫芦[7]脲气相色谱固定相填充柱对芳香烃、卤代烃、醇、酮、酯及硅氧烷的分离能力。 结果表明,葫芦[7]脲固定相热稳定性高,柱色谱性能稳定,对较广泛的化合物尤其对高沸点的酯类及硅氧烷类化合物显示出良好的色谱分离能力(7 min内分离),作为气相色谱固定相有较好的应用前景。 初步讨论了葫芦[7]脲固定相对上述化合物的分离机理。     

Importance of Debye and Keesom interactions in separating m-xylene and p-xylene in GC-MS analysis utilizing PEG stationary phase

In electron impact gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry analysis of a complex mixture, such as gasoline, two coeluting solutes can be distinguished if each has a unique major ion. The boiling-point difference between m-xylene and p-xylene, which also has identical major ions (mz-1: 91 and 106 Da), is 0.77 degrees C. These cannot be separated even on a crossed-linked polydimethylsiloxane capillary column, which has a minimum of 5000 plates/m. They are separated on a crossed-linked polar polyethylene glycol (PEG) capillary column. GC separation on a stationary phase depends on the relative strengths of solute-solute, stationary phase-stationary phase, and solute-stationary phase interactions. Although the calculated molar electronic polarization and refractivity factor of Lorenz-Lorentz equation for m-xylene and p-xylene are nearly equal because of its greater dipole moment difference (0.30 and 0.02), the calculated orientation polarization of m-xylene is 80 times greater than p-xylene. This implies the dipole reinforcement through inductive polarization by the hydroxyl of PEG stationary phase molecules is greater on m-xylene than p-xylene. In addition, as the permanent dipole moment of m-xylene is 15 times greater than p-xylene, m-xylene has a stronger Keesom interaction with PEG. In order for m-xylene and p-xylene to solvate in PEG, analytes must overcome the PEG-PEG Keesom/hydrogen bonding interaction forces. Physical and chemical parameters indicate that compared with p-xylene, m-xylene has a greater Debye-Keesom interaction tendency with PEG molecules. This is supported by the 0.12-min. retention-time difference between them.     

Evaluation of ionic liquid stationary phases for one dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatographic analyses of fatty acids in marine biota

Ionic liquid stationary phases were tested for one dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) of fatty acid methyl esters from algae. In comparison with polyethylene glycol and cyanopropyl substituted polar stationary phases, ionic liquid stationary phases SLB-IL 82 and SLB-IL 100 showed comparable resolution, but lower column bleeding with MS detection, resulting in better sensitivity. The selectivity and polarity of the ionic liquid phases are similar to a highly polar biscyanopropyl-silicone phase (e.g. HP-88). In GC×GC, using an apolar polydimethyl siloxane×polar ionic liquid column combination, an excellent group-type separation of fatty acids with different carbon numbers and number of unsaturations was obtained, providing information that is complementary to GC-MS identification.     

一种新型羟基葫芦[6]脲气相色谱固定相性能的研究

本文首次成功地制备和利用羟基葫芦[6]脲((HO)12CB[6])作填充柱气相色谱固定相。研究表明,羟基葫芦[6]脲固定相(PSP)具有较宽的操作柱温、高度的化学和热稳定性,对多种类型的化合物展示较高的色谱分离选择性,这包括烷烃、芳烃、醇类、酯类、酮类和胺类等多种化合物。新柱对一些二取代苯环芳族位置异构体有较强的分离能力。实验发现,羟基葫芦[6]脲固定相对日用花露水中复杂的挥发性成分有高效快速分离能力。同时,初步探讨了新固定相的色谱分离机理,发现羟基葫芦[6]脲对溶质的部分包结作用,而不是完全包结作用,有利于提高其色谱分离选择性和柱效。此外,在极速程序升温色谱中,该固定相低流失基线漂移小,有利于实现宽沸点范围复杂样品的快速气相色谱分离分析。     

Study of Monolithic Integrated Micro Gas Chromatography Chip

A monolithic micro gas chromatography (μGC) chip which integrated the micro separation column (μSC) and the micro thermal conductivity detector (μTCD) based on MEMS (Micro-electro-mechanical systems) technique was fabricated. Compared to the state of the art, the μSC with high depth-to-width ratio channels that was coated with mesoporous silica nanoparticles as stationary phase could effectively improve the column capacity and separation performance. Besides, the stable suspending μTCD, which was designed and fabricated in two ports of the μGC chip, could availably enhance the thermal isolation and reliability of the device. The mixture of light hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane and butane) could be separated from each other and detected by this monolithic integrated μGC chip, in which the overall analysis and detection time was only 33 seconds, the separation resolution of ethane and propane was 8.34, and the number of theoretical plate was as high as 11420. The monolithic integrated μGC chip has many advantages such as good separation resolution, high column efficiency and short analysis time, and is suitable for portable gas chromatographic field and onsite detection.     

High-separation performance of chromatographic capillaries coated with MOF-5 by the controlled SBU approach

Recently developed MOF surface-coating techniques, the controlled SBU approach (CSA) for the generation of MOF-5, and the use of self-assembled monolayers have been combined to generate a wall-bonded, crosslinked stationary phase for gas chromatographic capillary columns displaying excellent performance in the separation of natural gas components. The chromatographic performance of this new type of column has been compared to the state-of-the-art solution for this separation problem, namely a coated silica column of the porous layer open tubular (PLOT) type. Chromatographic parameters such as separation, resolution, and tailing factors, as well as plate numbers and heights in the case of isothermal operation, have been determined. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters characterizing the analyte-stationary phase interaction have been determined for various C1-C4 analytes.     

Perhydroxylcucurbit[6]uril as a highly selective gas chromatographic stationary phase for analytes of wide‐ranging polarity

This work describes the separation performance of a perhydroxylcucurbit[6]uril stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography. The perhydroxylcucurbit[6]uril stationary phase exhibits higher resolving capabilities for critical analytes with better peak shapes than cucurbit[6]uril and conventional stationary phases. The advantageous separation feature of the perhydroxylcucurbit[6]uril stationary phase may originate from its unique structure and favorably balanced interactions with the analytes. Also, the perhydroxylcucurbit[6]uril column shows good separation repeatability with relative standard deviations in the range of 0.01–0.13% for intraday, 0.37–0.82% for interday, and 1.0–4.7% for column‐to‐column repeatability.     

New benchmark for basic and neutral nitrogen compounds speciation in middle distillates using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

This paper reports an analytical method for the comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) separation and identification of nitrogen compounds (N-compounds) in middle distillates according to their types (basicity). For the evaluation of the best chromatographic conditions, a non-polar x polar approach was chosen. The impact of the second dimension (stationary phase and column length) on the separation of basic and neutral N-compounds was evaluated by mean of two-dimensional resolution. This study revealed that the implementation of polar secondary column having free electron pairs improves drastically the separation of N-compounds. Indeed, the presence of permanent dipole-permanent dipole interactions between neutral N-compounds and the stationary phase was enlightened. The comparison of two different nitrogen chemiluminescence detectors (NCD) was also evaluated for GC x GC selective monitoring of N-compounds. Owing to higher resolution power and enhanced sensitivity achieved using developed chromatographic and detection conditions, it was possible to identify univocally and to quantitate N-compounds (i) by class of compounds and (ii), within a class, by carbon number. Finally, quantitative comparison of GC x GC-NCD with conventional gas chromatography illustrates the benefits of GC x GC leading to an excellent correlation with results obtained by American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) methods for the determination of basic/neutral nitrogen ratio in diesel samples.     

Development and evaluation of gold-centered monolayer protected nanoparticle stationary phases for gas chromatography

The current status for the development of novel open-tubular gas chromatography (GC) stationary phases consisting of thin films of gold-centered monolayer protected nanoparticles (MPNs) is reported. Dodecanethiol MPNs, in which the monolayer is dodecanethiol linked to the gold nanoparticle, have shown great promise as a GC stationary phase with efficient columns having been produced in a variety of capillary i.d.'s with stationary phase film depths ranging from 10 to 60 nm, +/-2 nm at a given film depth. Stationary phase operational parameters are discussed including maximum operating temperature, sample capacity, and stationary phase lifetime and robustness. An overview of the general method employed for column production is also included. The sample capacity was determined for a 2.5 m, 250 microm i.d. column with a stationary phase film thickness of 40 nm, at 50 degrees C using anisole (k' = 1.86) as the probe analyte. The sample capacity was experimentally found to be 2.3 ng under these conditions, similar to values reported for thicker, polymer stationary phases. The efficiency of the dodecanethiol MPN stationary phase was determined with a 100 microm i.d. capillary and found to have a reduced plate height hmin value of 0.95 for octane (k' = 0.68). Areas of application illustrated and discussed utilizing the dodecanethiol MPN stationary phase include complementary separations such as two-dimensional GC (GC x GC), potential utilization within a model system for a micro-fabricated GC (microGC), as well as efficient single dimension high-speed separations. Initial development of polar stationary phases utilizing 4-chlorobenzenethiol MPNs and 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenethiol MPNs is discussed. Included is a selectivity comparison of the retention behavior of the 4-chlorobenzenethiol MPN stationary phase and the dodecanethiol MPN stationary phase.     

Rapid determination of complex mixtures by dual-column gas chromatography with a novel stationary phase combination and spectrometric detection

Fast GC separations of a broad range of analytes are demonstrated using a capillary column coated with a novel immobilized ionic liquid (IIL) stationary phase. Both completely cross-linked and partially cross-linked columns were evaluated, yielding approximately 1600 and approximately 2000 theoretical plates per meter, respectively. Enhanced separation is demonstrated using a dual-column ensemble comprised of an IIL column, a commercially coated Rtx-1 column, and a pneumatic valve connecting the inlet to the junction point between the two columns. Enhanced separation of 20 components, with two sets of co-eluting peaks is shown in approximately 150 s, while sacrificing only a length of time equivalent to the sum of the stop flow pulses, or about 15.5 s. A novel application of a band trajectory model that shows band position as a function of analysis time as analytes move through the column ensemble is employed to determine pulse application times. The model predicts component retention times within a few seconds. Another method of selectivity enhancement of the IIL stationary phase-coated columns is demonstrated using a differential mobility spectrometer (DMS) that provides a second dimension separation based on ion mobility in a high-frequency electrical field. The DMS is able to separate all but one set of co-eluting components from the IIL column. The separation of 13 components found in the headspace above U.S. currency is demonstrated using the IIL column in a dual-column ensemble as well as with the DMS.     

聚硅氧烷离子液体用于快速气相色谱固定相的研究

合成了聚硅氧烷键合离子液体[PSOMIM][NTf2],并将其用作快速气相色谱柱的固定相.初步探索了采用短柱及小内径毛细管柱(3 m×75 μm i.d.)时的分离性能及固定相膜厚对分离性能的影响.与常规柱(8m×0.25 mmi.d.)相比,在不损失分离度的前提下,分离速度可提高1～6倍;当膜厚为0.056 μm时,可以将分离速度提高2～4倍.实验结果表明,聚硅氧烷键合离子液体固定相可以有效弥补由于缩短柱长所导致的分离度减小的问题,在快速气相色谱固定相方面具有较好的应用前景.     

A novel octadecylsilane functionalized graphene oxide/silica composite stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography

An octadecylsilane functionalized graphene oxide/silica stationary phase was fabricated by assembling graphene oxide onto the silica particles through an amide bond and subsequent immobilization of octadecylsilane. The chromatographic properties of the stationary phase were investigated by reversed-phase chromatography with alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amines, and phenolic compounds as the analytes. All the compounds achieved good separation on the column. The comparison between a C18 commercial column and the new stationary phase indicated that the existence of π-electron system of graphene oxide allows π-π interaction between analyte and octadecylsilane functionalized graphene oxide/silica stationary phase except for hydrophobic interaction, while only hydrophobic interaction presented between analyte and C18 commercial column. This suggests that some analytes can be better separated on the octadecylsilane functionalized graphene oxide/silica column.