Indirect detection in reversed-phase liquid chromatography: Ion-pair retention models for cations on polystyrene polymers

Summary The distribution equilibria of cationic compounds in reversed-phase chromatographic systems (ion-pair chromatography) have been studied on the basis of their effect on a detectable mobile phase component. The solid phase was a polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and the detectable component, a quaternary ammonium ion, 1-methylpyridine. The solutes were mono- and divalent amines and quaternary ammonium ions. The cations can be retained by ion-pair adsorption and ion exchange. Expressions for the ion-pair retention of the solutes and the mobile phase cation (system peak) have been developed assuming Langmuir distribution of ion pairs to a solid phase with one kind of binding site. The validity of the expressions has been tested by evaluation of ion-pair distribution constants using non-linear curve fitting techniques. Good agreement for the constants of common ion pairs was obtained from different kinds of capacity ratio expressions. Ion exchange retention can appear beside ion-pair retention, and it has been observed in the pH range 1.6–6.1. The effect depends not only on cations in the mobile phase, but also on the nature of the buffering systems.