Practical aspects of fast HPLC separations for pharmaceutical process development using monolithic columns

A large number of samples can be generated during pharmaceutical process development. Fast separation for these samples is usually challenging due to the complexity of sample matrix, which requires high efficiency as well as high speed. Monolithic columns (E. Merck, Germany) were investigated as a possible tool for reducing separation time in reversed-phase HPLC without significantly sacrificing efficiency or resolution. Both van Deemter plots and separations of alkyl benzenes and in-process samples showed that monolithic columns were suitable for fast separations without significantly compromising resolution. Practical parameters including the pressure drop, retention factor, selectivity, and tailing factor of monolithic columns (Chromolith type) were compared to those of conventional YMC 150 mm × 4.6 mm (3-μm particles) and 250 mm × 4.6 mm (5-μm particles) packed columns. The batch-to-batch reproducibility of the 100 mm × 4.6 mm Chromolith columns from five randomly ordered batches was also compared to the 250 mm × 4.6 mm YMC particle-packed columns. Fast and efficient separations of complicated process samples including crude drug substances, reaction mixtures, and crystallized mother liquors were demonstrated for both monolithic columns and conventional packed columns. The analysis times were decreased by three to seven times on the coupled monolithic columns, while maintaining the comparable resolution to typical 5-μm particle-packed 250 mm × 4.6 mm columns.     

Enhanced capabilities of separation in Sequential Injection Chromatography--fused-core particle column and its comparison with narrow-bore monolithic column

In the Sequential Injection Chromatography (SIC) only monolithic columns for chromatographic separations have been used so far. This article presents the first use of fused-core particle packed column in an attempt to extend of the chromatographic capabilities of the SIC system. A new fused-core particle column (2.7 μm) Ascentis^® Express C18 (Supelco™ Analytical) 30 mm × 4.6 mm brings high separation efficiency within flow rates and pressures comparable to monolithic column Chromolith^® Performance RP-18e 100-3 (Merck^®) 100 mm × 3 mm. Both columns matches the conditions of the commercially produced SIC system - SIChrom™ (8-port high-pressure selection valve and medium-pressure Sapphire™ syringe pump with 4 mL reservoir - maximal work pressure 1000 PSI) (FIAlab^®, USA). The system was tested by the separation of four estrogens with similar structure and an internal standard - ethylparaben. The mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/water (40/60 (v/v)) was pumped isocratic at flow rate 0.48 mL min⁻¹. Spectrophotometric detection was performed at wavelength of 225 nm and injected volume of sample solutions was 10 μL. The chromatographic characteristics of both columns were compared. Obtained results and conclusions have shown that both fused-core particle column and longer narrow shaped monolithic column bring benefits into the SIC method.     

Improvement of separation efficiencies of anion-exchange chromatography using monolithic silica capillary columns modified with polyacrylates and polymethacrylates containing tertiary amino or quaternary ammonium groups

Anion-exchange (AEX) columns were prepared by on-column polymerization of acrylates and methacrylates containing tertiary amino or quaternary ammonium groups on monolithic silica in a fused silica capillary modified with anchor groups. The columns provided a plate height (H) of less than 10 μm at optimum linear velocity (u) with keeping their high permeability (K = 9–12 × 10⁻¹⁴ m²). Among seven kinds of AEX columns, a monolithic silica column modified with poly(2-hydroxy-3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl methacrylates) (HMPMA) showed larger retentions and better selectivities for nucleotides and inorganic anions than the others. The HMPMA column of 410 mm length produced 42 000–55 000 theoretical plates (N) at a linear velocity of 0.97 mm/s with a backpressure of 3.8 MPa. The same column could be employed for a fast separation of inorganic anions in 1.8 min at a linear velocity of 5.3 mm/s with a backpressure of 20 MPa. In terms of van Deemter plot and separation impedance, the HMPMA column showed higher performance than a conventional particle-packed AEX column. The HMPMA column showed good recovery of a protein, trypsin inhibitor, and it was applied to the separation of proteins and tryptic digest of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a gradient elution, to provide better separation compared to a conventional particle-packed AEX column.     

Polymethacrylate monolithic and hybrid particle-monolithic columns for reversed-phase and hydrophilic interaction capillary liquid chromatography

We prepared hybrid particle-monolithic polymethacrylate columns for micro-HPLC by in situ polymerization in fused silica capillaries pre-packed with 3–5 μm C₁₈ and aminopropyl silica bonded particles, using polymerization mixtures based on laurylmethacrylate–ethylene dimethacrylate (co)polymers for the reversed-phase (RP) mode and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) zwitterionic (co)polymers for the hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) mode. The hybrid particle-monolithic columns showed reduced porosity and hold-up volumes, approximately 2–2.5 times lower in comparison to the pure monolithic columns prepared in the whole volume of empty capillaries. The elution volumes of sample compounds are also generally lower in comparison to packed or pure monolithic columns. The efficiency and permeability of the hybrid columns are intermediate in between the properties of the reference pure monolithic and particle-packed columns. The chemistries of the embedded solid particles and of the interparticle monolithic moiety in the hybrid capillary columns contribute to the retention to various degrees, affecting the selectivity of separation. Some hybrid columns provided improved separations of proteins in comparison to the reference particle-packed columns in the reversed-phase mode. Zwitterionic hybrid particle-monolithic columns show dual mode retention HILIC/RP behaviour depending on the composition of the mobile phase and allow separations of polar compounds such as phenolic acids in the HILIC mode at lower concentrations of acetonitrile and, often in shorter analysis time in comparison to particle-packed and full-volume monolithic columns.     

Semi-micro-monolithic columns using macroporous silica rods with improved performance

Monolithic silica columns in semi-micro-format have been synthesized using poly(acrylic acid) as a phase-separation inducer via a sol–gel route. The absence of a thick skin layer accompanied by deformation of the micrometer-sized gelling skeletons on the outermost part of the macroporous silica rod contributed to improve the efficiency of monolithic silica columns as thick as 2.4 mm in diameter. The kinetic plot analysis revealed that monolithic silica columns with macropore diameter of 1 μm and skeleton thickness of 1 μm with decreased macroporosity behave similarly to columns packed with 3 μm particles with slightly lower back pressure.     

Monolithic silica columns with various skeleton sizes and through-pore sizes for capillary liquid chromatography

Reduction of through-pore size and skeleton size of a monolithic silica column was attempted to provide high separation efficiency in a short time. Monolithic silica columns were prepared to have various sizes of skeletons (approximately 1-2 microm) and through-pores (approximately 2-8 microm) in a fused-silica capillary (50-200 microm I.D.). The columns were evaluated in HPLC after derivatization to C18 phase. It was possible to prepare monolithic silica structures in capillaries of up to 200 microm I.D. from a mixture of tetramethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane. As expected, a monolithic silica column with smaller domain size showed higher column efficiency and higher pressure drop. High external porosity (> 80%) and large through-pores resulted in high permeability (K = 8 x 10(-14) -1.3 x 10(-12) m2) that was 2-30 times higher than that of a column packed with 5-mirom silica particles. The monolithic silica columns prepared in capillaries produced a plate height of about 8-12 microm with an 80% aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase at a linear velocity of 1 mm/s. Separation impedance, E, was found to be as low as 100 under optimum conditions, a value about an order of magnitude lower than reported for conventional columns packed with 5-microm particles. Although a column with smaller domain size generally resulted in higher separation impedance and the lower total performance, the monolithic silica columns showed performance beyond the limit of conventional particle-packed columns under pressure-driven conditions.     

Determination of neopterin, kynurenine, tryptophan and creatinine in human serum by high throuput HPLC

A new HPLC method for simultaneous determination of neopterin, creatinine, kynurenine and tryptophan in human serum was developed and validated. Monolithic stationary phase's technology (two monolithic columns RP-18e were connected with guard monolithic cartridge 4.6 mm × 50 mm + 3.0 mm × 100 mm and 4.6 × 10 mm) and special auto sampler for micro titration plates (samples are storage in dark cooled place protected against evaporation) were combined with easy sample preparation step. As mobile phase 15 mmol/L phosphate buffer at pH 4.50 was used. Neopterin and tryptophan were detected using fluorescent detection and kynurenine and creatinine were detected by diode-array detection. This method may be suitable for large sequences of samples in clinical research and routine practice.     

Novel separation medium spongy monolith for high throughput analyses

Sponge-like material was utilized as novel chromatographic media for high throughput analyses. The pore size of the sponge-like material was several dozen micrometer, and was named spongy monolith because it consists of continuous structured copolymers, which was made of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), such as monolithic materials including silica monoliths and organic polymer monoliths. The spongy monolith was packed into a stainless steel column (100 mm × 4.6 mm I.D.) and evaluated in liquid chromatography (LC) with an on-line column-switching LC concentration system. The results indicate that the packed column could be used with high flow rates and low back pressure (9.0 mL/min at 0.5 MPa). Furthermore, bisphenol A was quantitatively recovered by on-line column-switching LC concentration with the spongy monolithic column. Additionally, the adsorption capacity and physical strength of the media was enhanced via chemical modification of spongy monoliths using glycerol dimethacrylate. The results compared with original spongy monolith demonstrated that a higher adsorption capacity was achieved on a shorter column, and a stable low back pressure was obtained at high throughput elution even with a longer column.     

The performance of hybrid monolithic silica capillary columns prepared by changing feed ratios of tetramethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane

The effect of a feed ratio of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) to tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) was studied to improve the performance of a hybrid monolithic silica capillary column with 100-μm i.d. in HPLC in a range MTMS/TMOS (v/v) = 10/90–25/75. The domain size was also varied by adjusting the amount of PEG to control permeability (K = 2.8 × 10⁻¹⁴–6.9 × 10⁻¹⁴ m²). Evaluation of the performance for those capillary columns following octadecylsilylation proved an increase in retention factor (k) and a decrease in steric selectivity α(triphenylene/ortho-terphenyl) with the increase in MTMS content in the feed. The effect of the feed ratio was also observed in porosity and hydrophobic property of the C18 stationary phase from the results of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and reversed phase characterization. The monolithic silica capillary columns prepared under new preparation conditions were able to produce a plate height of 4.6–6.0 μm for hexylbenzene in a mobile phase acetonitrile/water = 80/20 at a linear velocity of 2 mm/s. Consequently, it was possible to prepare hybrid monolithic silica capillary columns with higher performance than those reported previously while maintaining the retention factors in a similar range by reducing the MTMS/TMOS ratio and increasing the total silane concentration in feed.     

Potentiometric detection of exogenic beta-adrenergic substances in liquid chromatography

Generation of a large number of theoretical plates was attempted by capillary HPLC. Monolithic silica columns having small skeletons (ca. 2 μm) and large through-pores (ca. 8 μm) were prepared by a sol–gel method in a fused-silica capillary (50 μm I.D.), and derivatized to C₁₈ phase by on-column reaction. High external porosity (>80%) and large through-pores resulted in high permeability (K=1.2×10⁻¹² m²). The monolithic silica column in the capillary produced a plate height of about 12 μm in 80% acetonitrile at a linear velocity of 1 mm/s. Separation impedance, E value, was found to be as low as 200, that was about an order of magnitude lower than reported values for conventional columns packed with 5 μm particles. Reproducibility of preparation within ±15% was obtained for column efficiency and for pressure drop. It was possible to generate 100,000 plates by using a 130-cm column at very low pressure (<7 kg/cm²). A considerable decrease in column efficiency was observed at high linear velocity, and for solutes with large retention factors due to the slow mobile-phase mass transfer in the large through-pores. The monolithic silica columns, however, showed performance beyond the limit of conventional particle-packed columns in HPLC under favorable conditions.     

Flow-through pore characteristics of monolithic silicas and their impact on column performance in high-performance liquid chromatography

In order to elucidate the role of the flow-through characteristics with regard to the column performance in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) native and n-octadecyl bonded monolithic silica rods and columns, respectively of 100 mm length and 4.6 mm ID with mesopores in the range between 10 and 25 nm and macropores in the range between 0.7 and 6.0 μm were examined by mercury intrusion/extrusion, scanning electron microscopy, image analysis and permeability. The obtained data of the flow-through pore sizes and porosity values as well as surface-to-volume ratio of the stationary phase skeleton enabled to predict their influence to the chromatographic separation efficiency. Our data demonstrate that mercury porosimetry is a reliable technique to obtain all the characteristic parameters of the flow-through pores of silica monoliths. An important result of our examination was that the surface-to-volume ratio of monolithic silica skeletons had more significant impact to the separation process, rather than the average flow-through pore sizes. We could also show the essential differences between the particulate and monolithic stationary phases based on theoretical computation. The results, obtained from other characterization methods also indicated the structural complexity of monolithic silica samples. Permeability of columns is a generally applicable parameter to characterize all chromatographic phases no matter the chemistry or format. The correlation coefficient obtained for mercury intrusion and permeability of water was 0.998, though our investigation revealed that the surface modification is more likely influencing the obtained results. Further, the assumption of the cylindrical morphology of flow-through pores is not relevant to the investigated monolithic silica columns. These results on the morphology of the flow-through pores and of the skeletons were confirmed by the image analysis as well. Our main finding is that the flow-through pore sizes are not relevant for the estimation of the chromatographic separation efficiency of monolithic silica columns.     

Intact-protein trapping columns for proteomic analysis in capillary high-performance liquid chromatography

A new type of monolithic trapping columns with high mechanical strength was prepared by thin-layer sol–gel coating method and applied to trapping intact proteins for on-line capillary liquid chromatography. Monolithic trapping columns were fabricated by entrapping C8 reversed-phase particles into the capillary columns through a sol–gel network, which was formed by hydrolysis and polycondensation of methyltriethoxysilane. Hundreds times of trapping/untrapping for intact proteins were carried out. The trapping columns showed long-term stability up to 300 bar. Recovery, loading capacity and reproducibility of trapping columns were evaluated using four proteins. The recovery of four protein mixtures for the C8 monolithic trapping columns was 99.3% on average. The loading capacity of 5 mm × 320 μm i.d. C8 trapping columns for the protein mixtures was 30 μg. Day-to-day relative standard deviation (RSD) values for recoveries of protein mixtures on the same C8 trapping column ranged from 2.34 to 5.87%, column-to-column RSD values were from 3.01 to 6.81%. The C8 trapping columns were used to trap normal mouse liver intact proteins in a capillary liquid chromatography system. Results demonstrated high efficiency of the monolithic trapping columns for trapping intact proteins for proteomic analysis in on-line capillary liquid chromatography system.     

Two-column Sequential Injection Chromatography—New approach for fast and effective analysis and its comparison with gradient elution chromatography

This work presents novel approach in low-pressure chromatography flow systems—two-column Sequential Injection Chromatography (2-C SIC) and its comparison with gradient elution chromatography on the same instrument. The system was equipped with two different chromatographic columns (connected to selection valve in parallel design) for isocratic separation and determination of all components in composed anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical preparation (tablets). The sample was first injected on the first column of length 30 mm where less retained analytes were separated and then the sample was injected on the second column of length 10 mm where more retained analytes were separated. The SIC system was based on a commercial SIChrom™ manifold (8-port high-pressure selection valve and medium-pressure syringe pump with 4 mL reservoir) (FIAlab^®, USA) with two commercially available monolithic columns the “first column” Chromolith^® Flash RP-18e (25 mm × 4.6 mm i.d. with guard column 5 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.) and the “second column” Chromolith^® RP-18e (10 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.) and CCD UV-vis detector USB 4000 with micro-volume 1.0 cm Z flow cell. Two mobile phases were used for analysis (one for each column). The mobile phase 1 used for elution of paracetamol, caffeine and salicylic acid (internal standard) was acetonitrile/water (10:90, v/v, the water part of pH 3.5 adjusted with acetic acid), flow rate was 0.9 mL min⁻¹ (volume 3.0 mL of mobile phase per analysis). The mobile phase 2 used for elution of propyphenazone was acetonitrile/water (30:70, v/v); flow rate was 1.2 mL min⁻¹ (volume 1.5 mL of mobile phase per analysis). Absorbance was monitored at 210 nm. Samples were prepared by dissolving of one tablet in 30% acetonitrile and 10 μL of filtered supernatant was injected on each column (2 × 10 μL). The chromatographic resolution between all compounds was >1.45 and analysis time was 5.5 min under the optimal conditions. Limits of detection were determined at 0.4 μg mL⁻¹ for paracetamol, at 0.5 μg mL⁻¹ for caffeine and at 0.7 μg mL⁻¹ for propyphenazone. The new two-column chromatographic set-up developed as an alternative approach to gradient elution chromatography shows evident advantages (time and solvent reduction more than one-third) as compared with single-column gradient SIC method with Chromolith^® Flash RP-18 (25 mm × 4.6 mm i.d. with guard column 5 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.).     

HILIC mode separation of polar compounds by monolithic silica capillary columns coated with polyacrylamide

HILIC mode columns were prepared by an on-column polymerization of acrylamide on a monolithic silica capillary column modified with N-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)methacrylamide as the anchor group. The products showed HILIC mode retention characteristics with three times greater permeability and slightly higher column efficiency compared to a commercially available amide-type HILIC column packed with 5-μm particles. The selectivity of the monolithic silica-based column was similar to that of the particulate column for each group of solutes towards nucleosides, nucleic bases and carbohydrate derivatives, although a considerable difference was observed in the selectivity for the solute groups. Although the retention of solutes based on the polar functionality was much smaller with the monolithic silica columns, which had a smaller phase ratio, than with the particle-packed column, the former can achieve better separation utilizing the high permeability and higher column efficiencies of a longer column.     

Rapid separation and highly sensitive detection methodology for sulfonamides in shrimp using a monolithic column coupled with BDD amperometric detection

In this report, we aimed to extend our previous efforts toward the evaluation of sulfonamides (SAs) with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. We improved this method by reducing the analysis time using a monolithic column coupled with amperometric detection to determine seven sulfonamides (sulfaguanidine, sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine and sulfaquinoxaline). Because of its rapid separation, low back-pressure and high separation efficiency compared to a particle-packed column, a monolithic column (100 mm × 4.6 mm) was used for sulfonamide separation. Chromatographic separation was performed in less than 8 min. The analysis was carried out using phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 3): acetonitrile: methanol in a ratio of 80:15:5 (v/v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.5 mL min⁻¹. The optimal detection potential using hydrodynamic voltammetry was found to be 1.2 V versus Ag/AgCl. The method was applied to determine seven sulfonamides in shrimp after sample preparation by solid-phase extraction. The recoveries of the sulfonamides in spiked shrimp samples at 1.5, 5 and 10 μg g⁻¹ were in the range of 81.7 to 97.5% with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) between 1.0 and 4.6%. Our methodology produced results that were highly correlated with HPLC-MS data. Therefore, we propose a method that can be used for the rapid, selective and sensitive evaluation of sulfonamides in contaminated food.     

Impact of pore structural parameters on column performance and resolution of reversed-phase monolithic silica columns for peptides and proteins

In this work, monolithic silica columns with the C4, C8, and C18 chemistry and having various macropore diameters and two different mesopore diameters are studied to access the differences in the column efficiency under isocratic elution conditions and the resolution of selected peptide pairs under reversed-phase gradient elution conditions for the separation of peptides and proteins. The columns with the pore structural characteristics that provided the most efficient separations are then employed to optimize the conditions of a gradient separation of a model mixture of peptides and proteins based on surface chemistry, gradient time, volumetric flow rate, and acetonitrile concentration. Both the mesopore and macropore diameters of the monolithic column are decisive for the column efficiency. As the diameter of the through-pores decreases, the column efficiency increases. The large set of mesopores studied with a nominal diameter of approximately 25 nm provided the most efficient column performance. The efficiency of the monolithic silica columns increase with decreasing n-alkyl chain length in the sequence of C18相似文献   

Characterization of some physical and chromatographic properties of monolithic poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) columns

Monolithic capillary columns were prepared by copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene inside a 200 microm i.d. fused silica capillary using a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and decanol as porogen. Important chromatographic features of the synthesized columns were characterized and critically compared to the properties of columns packed with micropellicular, octadecylated poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB-C18) particles. The permeability of a 60 mm long monolithic column was slightly higher than that of an equally dimensioned column packed with PS-DVB-C18 beads and was invariant up to at least 250 bar column inlet pressure, indicating the high-pressure stability of the monolithic columns. Interestingly, monolithic columns showed a 3.6 times better separation efficiency for oligonucleotides than granular columns. To study differences of the molecular diffusion processes between granular and monolithic columns, Van Deemter plots were measured. Due to the favorable pore structure of monolithic columns all kind of diffusional band broadening was reduced two to five times. Using inverse size-exclusion chromatography a total porosity of 70% was determined, which consisted of internodule porosity (20%) and internal porosity (50%). The observed fast mass transfer and the resulting high separation efficiency suggested that the surface of the monolithic stationary phase is rather rough and does not feature real pores accessible to macromolecular analytes such as polypeptides or oligonucleotides. The maximum analytical loading capacity of monolithic columns for oligonucleotides was found to be in the region of 500 fmol, which compared well to the loading capacity of the granular columns. Batch-to-batch reproducibility proved to be better with granular stationary phases compared to monolithic stationary phase, in which each column bed is the result of a unique column preparation process.     

Achieving the full performance of highly efficient columns by optimizing conventional benchmark high-performance liquid chromatography instruments

A series of experiments and measurements demonstrate the importance of minimizing the extra-column band broadening contribution of the instrument used. The combination of several measures allowed the achievement of the full potential efficiency of three Kinetex-C₁₈ columns, using a conventional liquid chromatograph. The first measure consists in minimizing the extra-column volume of the instrument, without increasing much its back pressure contribution, by changing the needle seat volume, the inner diameter and length of the capillary connectors, and the volume of the detector cell of a standard instrument (Agilent 1100). The second measure consists in injecting a volume of weak eluent (less than half the elution strength of the mobile phase) right after the sample, before the sample had time to reach the column. Experimental results show that these changes could provide most of the resolution expected from the true column performance. After the changes were made, the resolutions of the 2.1 mm ×$\times$ 50 mm, 4.6 mm ×$\times$ 50 mm, and 4.6 mm ×$\times$ 100 mm Kinetex-C₁₈ columns for compounds having retention factors close to 1 were increased by about 180, 35, and 30%, respectively. The resolutions obtained are then similar to those measured with advanced instruments like the Agilent 1200, the Agilent 1290 Infinity HPLC, and the Acquity chromatographs.     

The Development of the In Situ Modification of 1st Generation Analytical Scale Silica Monoliths

Analytical scale silica monoliths are commercially limited to three column selectivities (bare silica, C8 and C18). An in situ modification is reported in detail to overcome this barrier and allow for any functionality of choice to be bonded to the silica surface of the monolithic stationary phase support. The modification method was conducted on a commercial bare silica column to bond the C18 moiety to the silica surface through a silylation reaction. The C18 type of stationary phase was chosen, as this is the most commonly bonded functionality for the majority of stationary phases used for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separations. The C18-modified monolith’s performance was compared to a commercial C18 monolithic and a particle packed column of the same analytical scale column dimensions (100 × 4.6 mm). The modified C18 monolith proved to be of high quality with an efficiency of 73,267 N m^?1, fast analysis times (operated at flow rates up to 3 mL min^?1 using a conventional 400 bar HPLC system) and improved resolution of a set of polar and non-polar substituted aromatics in comparison to a commercial C18 monolith.     

Preparation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted well-controlled 3D skeletal monolith based on E-51 epoxy resin for protein separation

A novel type of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafted E-51 epoxy-based monoliths in a 100 mm × 4.6 mm I.D. stainless steel column with well-controlled three-dimensional skeletal structures has been prepared and proposed for the separation of proteins. The grafted PNIPAAm chain via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization was successfully performed. The proposed method provided a new route to modify the E-51 epoxy-based monoliths for widening their applications. Meanwhile, the temperature and the salt concentration responses of the grafted monolithic columns were investigated. Under the salt gradient, six proteins were well separated in hydrophobic interaction mode. Moreover, for further confirming the application of the prepared monolith was meaningful for proteome analysis in actual system, the separation of human serum sample was performed.