Monitoring free silanols on reversed-phase supports with peptide standards

Summary A series of synthetic peptide HPLC standards has been designed for use in monitoring free silanols on silica-based reversed-phase supports. The four standards (+ 1 to + 4 net charge) showed great versatility in monitoring silanol activity over a pH range of 2.0 to 7.0. We have developed a silanol monitoring system based on the sensitivity of the standards to ionic interactions with reversed-phase packings at pH 7.0. This monitoring procedure involves chromatographing the peptides at pH 7.0 with a combined acetonitrile and sodium perchlorate linear AB gradient and is generally applicable to reversed-phase packings exhibiting a wide range of silanol concentrations. These standards not only demonstrate the presence and extent of free silanols, they also allow the researcher to determine what changes must be made to the mobile phase composition to minimize ionic interactions. In addition, the standards, in conjunction with the double gradient monitoring system at pH 7.0, will aid researchers and manufacturers in the improvement and development of reversed-phase matrices.