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.     

Overview of the retention in subcritical fluid chromatography with varied polarity stationary phases

Retention and separation of achiral compounds in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) depend on numerous parameters: some of these parameters are identical to those encountered in HPLC, such as the mobile phase polarity, while others are specific to SFC, as the density changes of the fluid, due to temperature and/or pressure variations. Additional effects are also related to the fluid compressibility, leading to unusual retention changes in SFC, for instance when flow rate or column length is varied. These additional effects can be minimised by working at lower temperatures in the subcritical domain, simplifying the understanding of retention behaviours. In these subcritical conditions, varied modifiers can be mixed to carbon dioxide, from hexane to methanol, allowing tuning the mobile phase polarity. With nonpolar modifiers, polar stationary phases are classically used. These chromatographic conditions are close to the ones of normal-phase LC. The addition of polar modifiers such as methanol or ACN increases the mobile phase polarity, allowing working with less polar stationary phases. In this case, despite the absence of water, retention behaviours generally follow the rules of RP LC. Moreover, because identical mobile phases can be used with all stationary phase types, from polar silica to nonpolar C18-bonded silica, the classical domains, RP and normal-phase, are easily brought together in SFC. A unified classification method based on the solvation parameter model is proposed to compare the stationary phase properties used with the same subcritical mobile phase.     

Fast Separation Method Development for Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Using an Autoblending Protocol

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is a powerful separation technique particularly in the area of enantioseparations. With rapid analysis speed, wide polarity compatibility, higher column efficiency and lower cost of the mobile phase, SFC is regarded as a better choice than high-performance liquid chromatography for drug discovery. In the development of separation method, the choice of modifier and/or additive is the key point of optimum separation. However, such screening of SFC is typically time-consuming. In this study, an autoblending protocol was introduced to speed up the modifier and/or additive screening process, which was performed on a separate programmable gradient proportioning system. The protocol prepares mobile phases on the fly to speed up the screening of modifiers and/or additives and reduces the waste of solutions. Furthermore, by switching mobile phase in the same run, separation of different types of compounds could also be achieved. This system was successfully applied to screen modifier–additive combinations of three alkaloids and three polyphenols by switching to two mobile phase conditions, as well as by a ternary additive mobile phase on an SFC system. The proposed protocol allows fast separation method development of SFC, which was proved to be rapid, simple, and reproducible.     

Fast Separation Method Development for Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Using an Autoblending Protocol

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is a powerful separation technique particularly in the area of enantioseparations. With rapid analysis speed, wide polarity compatibility, higher column efficiency and lower cost of the mobile phase, SFC is regarded as a better choice than high-performance liquid chromatography for drug discovery. In the development of separation method, the choice of modifier and/or additive is the key point of optimum separation. However, such screening of SFC is typically time-consuming. In this study, an autoblending protocol was introduced to speed up the modifier and/or additive screening process, which was performed on a separate programmable gradient proportioning system. The protocol prepares mobile phases on the fly to speed up the screening of modifiers and/or additives and reduces the waste of solutions. Furthermore, by switching mobile phase in the same run, separation of different types of compounds could also be achieved. This system was successfully applied to screen modifier–additive combinations of three alkaloids and three polyphenols by switching to two mobile phase conditions, as well as by a ternary additive mobile phase on an SFC system. The proposed protocol allows fast separation method development of SFC, which was proved to be rapid, simple, and reproducible.

     

Mobile and stationary phases for SFC: Effects of using modifiers

The effects of modifiers on the mobile-phase and the stationary-phase properties in packed-column supercritical-fluid chromatography were studied. Modifiers, may affect retention and improve peak shapes and efficiencies, because of (i) increased mobile-phase polarity, (ii) increased mobile-phase density, (iii) stationary-phase deactivation, and (iv) increased solvation or swelling of the stationary phase. In this paper these four parameters are evaluated and evidence to establish their relative importance is considered.The introduction of a modifier can lead to a substantial increase in the density of the mobile phase. The reliability of several methods for calculating the critical properties and densities of binary fluids is investigated. The Chueh and Prausnitz method gives the most accurate results for the calculation of the critical properties. The Lee and Kesler equation of state yields accurate density estimates.Adsorption isotherms have been measured on several stationary phases for packed-column SFC. These data suggest that stationary-phase deactivation is the most important effect of adding modifiers. Adsorption data on different stationary phases can also be used to judge their applicability. Relevant indicators are the maximum amount of modifier that can be adsorbed on the surface (saturation level) and the initial steepness of the isotherm (surface activity). The latter parameter can be related more closely to the peak shape observed in the absence of modifiers.All silica-based materials studied so far give rise to broad and highly asymmetrical peaks for certain classes of polar solutes. Different silica-based materials appear to differ in degree of activity, but the kind of interactions are the same. On a polystyrene-divinylbenzene stationary phase the mobile-phase modication effect could be studied without the interference of active sites.     

Selectivity changes towards steroids in packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) induced by temperature and pressure variation

Summary Pressure/temperature variation in SFC was shown to influence selectivity towards steroids. Major changes were observed for polar column packings compared to non-polar packings and variation of the amount of modifier showed that this is valid over the whole investigated range. The effect is underlined by a fall in resolution in the low density range (low pressure/high temperature) for polar stationary phases and appears to be significantly larger than for non-polar phases. Major selectivity shifts induced by variation of the physical properties of the mobile phase are considered to be due to the greater effect of polar modifiers on the nature of polar stationary phases than on non-polar phases.     

超临界流体色谱对吴茱萸中吲哚类生物碱的快速分析

建立了超临界流体色谱快速分析吴茱萸中吲哚类生物碱的方法。以标准品混合物和复杂样品为对象比较4种色谱柱的分离效果,进行色谱柱的筛选;考察了进样体积、改性剂、添加剂、温度和背压对保留行为的影响。结果表明,进样体积对峰形影响显著;添加剂对保留时间和色谱峰形影响有限;改变改性剂能使保留时间显著改变;降低温度,升高背压,保留时间减小。经过优化,确定采用Waters ACQUITY UPC² BEH色谱柱,以甲醇为改性剂,在35 ℃柱温和2.07×10⁷ Pa背压条件下,15 min内完成复杂样品的分析。同时采用超高效液相色谱完成复杂样品的快速分析。结果表明,超临界流体色谱可用于天然产物的高效快速分析,同时该方法与超高效液相色谱在分离选择上的差异有助于天然产物分析方法的拓展。     

Retention mechanisms in super/subcritical fluid chromatography on packed columns

Whereas the retention rules of achiral compounds are well defined in high-performance liquid chromatography, on the basis of the nature of the stationary phase, some difficulties appear in super/subcritical fluid chromatography on packed columns. This is mainly due to the supposed effect of volatility on retention behaviours in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and to the nature of carbon dioxide, which is not polar, thus SFC is classified as a normal-phase separation technique. Moreover, additional effects are not well known and described. They are mainly related to density changes of the mobile phase or to adsorption of fluid on the stationary phase causing a modification of its surface. It is admitted that pressure or temperature modifications induce variation in the eluotropic strength of the mobile phase, but effects of flow rate or column length on retention factor changes are more surprising. Nevertheless, the retention behaviour in SFC first depends on the stationary phase nature. Working with polar stationary phases induces normal-phase retention behaviour, whereas using non-polar bonded phases induces reversed-phase retention behaviour. These rules are verified for most carbon dioxide-based mobile phases in common use (CO(2)/MeOH, CO(2)/acetonitrile or CO(2)/EtOH). Moreover, the absence of water in the mobile phase favours the interactions between the compounds and the stationary phase, compared to what occurs in hydro-organic liquids. Other stationary phases such as aromatic phases and polymers display intermediate behaviours. In this paper, all these behaviours are discussed, mainly by using log k-log k plots, which allow a simple comparison of stationary phase properties. Some examples are presented to illustrate these retention properties.     

Separation of enantiomers of ibuprofen on chiral stationary phases by packed column supercritical fluid chromatography.

A packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method for the separation of ibuprofen enantiomers on a chiral stationary phase and CO2 with modifier as mobile phase has been developed at an analytical scale. Among 11 different stationary phases the Kromasil CHI-TBB phase showed by far the best separation properties. The influence of different modifiers, injection solvents, temperature, and pressure, and density of the fluid, respectively, on the separation behavior has been studied. It was found that the separation behavior strongly depends on the type of modifier and the modifier content. Temperature and pressure are of less influence.     

Comparison of the performance of non-ionic and anionic surfactants as mobile phase additives in the RPLC analysis of basic drugs

Surfactants added to the mobile phases in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) give rise to a modified stationary phase, due to the adsorption of surfactant monomers. Depending on the surfactant nature (ionic or non-ionic), the coated stationary phase can exhibit a positive net charge, or just change its polarity remaining neutral. Also, micelles in the mobile phase introduce new sites for solute interaction. This affects the chromatographic behavior, especially in the case of basic compounds. Two surfactants of different nature, the non-ionic Brij-35 and the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) added to water or aqueous-organic mixtures, are here compared in the separation of basic compounds (β-blockers and tricyclic antidepressants). The reversible/irreversible adsorption of the monomers of both surfactants on the stationary phase was examined. The changes in the nature of the chromatographic system using different columns and chromatographic conditions were followed based on the changes in retention and peak shape. The study revealed that Brij-35 is suitable for analyzing basic compounds of intermediate polarity, using "green chemistry", since the addition of an organic solvent is not needed and Brij-35 is a biodegradable surfactant. In contrast, RPLC with hydro-organic mixtures or mobile phases containing SDS required high concentrations of organic solvents.     

Retention process in reversed phase TLC systems with polar bonded stationary phases

The retention of a solute in RP chromatography is a very complex process which depends on many factors. Therefore, the study of the influence of a mobile phase modifier concentration on the retention in different reversed phase chromatographic systems is very important for understanding the rules governing retention and mechanisms of substance separation in a chromatographic process. Composition changes and the nature of mobile phases enable tuning of the separated analytes' retention over a wide range of retention parameters and optimization of the chromatographic process as well. Optimization of the chromatographic process can be achieved by several different methods; one of them is the so-called interpretative strategy. The key approach adopted in this strategy is the implementation of adequate retention models that couple the retention of solute with the composition of a mixed mobile phase. The use of chemically bonded stationary phases composed of partially non-bonded silica matrix and organic ligands bonded to its surface in everyday chromatography practice leads to questions of the correct definition of the retention model and the dominant retention mechanism in such chromatographic systems. The retention model for an accurate prediction of retention factor as a function of modifier concentration and the heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface should be taken into consideration. In this work the influence of mobile-phase composition on the retention of sixteen model substances such as phenols, quinolines, and anilines used as test analytes in different RP-TLC systems with CN-, NH2-, and Diol-silica polar bonded stationary phases has been studied. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of three valuable retention models assumed as the partition, adsorption/partition, and adsorption mechanism of retention. All the models were verified for different RP-TLC systems by three statistical criteria. The results of investigations presented in this work demonstrate that the best agreement between the experimental and calculated Rf values was obtained by the use of new-generation retention models, which assume heterogeneity of adsorbent surface. The results reported here show that heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface may be important in analysis of the elution process in liquid chromatography. Consideration of the goodness of fit for the experimental data to the examined retention models is in conformity with the adsorption mechanism of retention on all polar bonded stationary phases in most eluent systems for most investigated compounds.     

Enantiomeric separations of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls on three polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phases by supercritical fluid chromatography

Enantiomeric separations of 18 chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated on three polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs; Sino-Chiral OJ, Chiralpak IB, and Chiralcel OD) by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). With these commonly used polysaccharide CSPs, 17 PCBs except PCB 135 (R(S) = 0.81) were well resolved (R(S) > 1.5) under appropriate mobile phases and temperatures. Using Sino-Chiral OJ, 14 PCBs could be baseline-separated, while only one and nine PCBs could be completely separated using Chiralpak IB and Chiralcel OD, respectively. The influence of column temperature was studied for the optimization of resolution, as well as for the type and percentage of organic modifier in the mobile phase. The resolution decreased as the temperature increased in the range of 26-40 °C in which the enantiomeric separations were an enthalpy-driven process. The addition of modifiers in the mobile phase decreased the resolution of the PCB enantiomers, but it clearly shortened their retention time. These separation results indicate that SFC is a promising chromatographic technique for chiral separation and enantiopure standard preparation.     

Comparative study of chromatography on thin layers impregnated with organic stationary phases. Chromatographic separation of nitrophenols.

The chromatographic behaviour of nitrophenols on thin layers of silica gel and cellulose was compared, both without impregnation and impregnated with non-aqueous polar stationary phases (formamide, dimethylformamide) and less polar stationary phases (liquid paraffin, octan-1-ol, 1-bromonaphthalene). Cellulose is preferred when using formamide or dimethylformamide if a pure partition process is required. For each particular analyte a certain amount of the stationary phase is always required to suppress the adsorption activity of silica gel. Separation by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography is strongly affected by the type of stationary phase (the possibility of forming charge-transfer complexes with 1-bromonaphthalene) and its support (the acidic properties of silica gel and its adsorption activity), the mobile phase (content of organic modifier, pH, presence of salts) and the properties of the solutes (polarity, ionizability).     

The effects of modifiers in supercritical fluid chromatography

Investigations have been initiated to examine the basic elements of resolution and how they vary individually and collectively in terms of modifiers used in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Capacity factors (k′) have been determined for a mixture of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from SFC experiments as function of modifier identity and concentration using different stationary phases. Using carbon dioxide as the primary mobile phase, the modifiers investigated included methanol, 2-methoxy ethanol, 1-propanol, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, sulfur hexafluoride, and freon 11.     

Reversed-phase separation of basic tricyclic antidepressants using buffered and fluoroform-enhanced fluidity liquid mobile phases

In an effort to expand the range of applications of enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography (EFLC) to strongly polar and basic analytes, fluoroform (CHF3) was investigated as a fluidity-enhancing agent. Fluoroform was chosen due to its high polarity, low viscosity and chemical inertness toward water and basic analytes. A group of representative basic compounds, tricyclic antidepressants, covering a wide range of polarity was chosen as model compounds. Their retention behavior on a C18 stationary phase in methanol/phosphate buffer and methanol/phosphate buffer/CHF3 mobile phases was characterized. The chromatographic performance with mobile phase conditions of different pH, with and without CHF3 addition and with addition of triethylamine was studied. The advantages of using CHF3 enhanced and buffered mobile phases were shown in the much improved chromatographic performance, such as shortened analysis time, increased efficiency, lower pressure drop and improved selectivity. Furthermore, this study demonstrated for the first time, that a commercial instrument could be readily utilized for EFLC separations which greatly expands the application range of the EFLC technique and chromatographic instrumentation.     

Modifier effects on packed and capillary columns in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary The separation of polar thermally labile solutes is one of the potentially most rewarding fields of SFC application. A presupposition for such applications is, however, mobile phases having relatively high solvent strengths. A promising approach to achieve this is the use of mobile phases consisting of carbon dioxide with a polar additive. In this work, the chromatographic effects of different concentrations of an additive, isopropanol, in carbon dioxide have been studied on capillary and packed columns. A series of antibiotics was used as test substances. Best results were obtained with carbon dioxide/8% isopropanol as mobile phase on a capillary column coated with a cyanopropyl-substituted polysiloxane stationary phase.     

Retention behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in supercritical fluid chromatography on a chemically bonded stationary phases based upon liquid-crystalline polymer

Summary The retention behavior of a set of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in supercritical fluid chromatography have been studied on a chemically bonded stationary phase based upon a side chain liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) with carbon dioxide-based mobile phase. The effects of the mobile phase pressure, column temperature and amount of mobile phase organic modifier have been investigated in order to detect a possible structural change in the liquid crystal polymer linked to the silica support. The influence of these factors on the selectivity coefficients has also been studied. Two distinctive behaviors with temperature are noted at low pressure on the one hand and at higher pressure on the other. This change in behavior is based on the density of the supercritical CO₂ and the PAH volatility rather than on any specific stationary phase structural change. Both lower mobile phase pressure and amount of mobile phase modifier are required to obtain better selectivities. Better planarity recognition is observed in SFC than in HPLC with these new bonded liquid crystal stationary phases. The bonded liquid crystal phase is only weakly affected by the addition of organic modifier in the supercritical CO₂.     

Secondary isotope effects in liquid chromatography behaviour of 2H and 3H labelled solutes and solvents

The separation of solutes that differ only in the extent of isotopic substitution of their hydrogen atoms, using either mixtures of isotopically non-modified or perdeuterated solvents as mobile phases, is described. The occurrence of a secondary isotope effect is demonstrated in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, which is independent of the nature of the stationary phase (different octadecyl-bonded silicas, an embedded alkylamide-bonded silica, as well as one polymeric stationary phase were tested), and the water content and the nature of organic modifier of the mobile phase. The separation of 24 structurally different isotopologue pairs (apolar compounds and polar compounds with exchangeable or non-exchangeable hydrogen atoms) is examined using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. It is found that the greater the number of isotopically substituted hydrogen atoms in a given organic solute, the better is the separation of a particular isotopologue pair. The single secondary isotope effect is shown to be dependent on the number of isotopic substitutions. The greater the number of these substitutions, the smaller is the single isotope effect. The single secondary isotope effect is higher for aromatic hydrocarbons than for aliphatic hydrocarbons. A secondary isotope effect is also observed in chiral chromatography and normal-phase liquid chromatography, as well as on changing the nature of the substituting isotope, i.e.: tritium instead of deuterium. Thus, we have demonstrated that the total secondary isotopic effect for hydrogen/tritium is higher than for hydrogen/deuterium. This isotope effect involves only the consequences of changes in interactions due to nuclear motions. Overall this study confirms the predominance of hydrophobic effects in retention processes in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. In reversed-phase liquid chromatography, a secondary isotope effect related to mobile phase composition is also observed. The behaviour of deuterium oxide and water in mobile phases of the same composition (%, w/w) is compared. Independent of the nature of the organic modifier (methanol, acetonitrile or ethanol), the effect of replacing H2O with 2H2O in the mobile phase, is an increase in the retention factors and an improvement in the chromatographic resolution of isotopologue pairs. This increase in the resolution is not accompanied by a change in the chromatographic selectivity. The measurement of liquid-liquid extraction coefficients proves that the effect is mainly due to the modification of the phase ratio. In general the effect of 2H-labelled solvents (2H2O and C2H3CN) as mobile phase components, compared to their isotopically non-modified isomers, can be rationalized on the basis of their lower polarisabilities. Overall the use of perdeuterated rather than isotopically non-modified solvents as mobile phase components leads to the most efficient separation systems.     

填充柱超临界流体色谱系统中的溶剂效应

 考察了填充柱超临界流体色谱法 (SFC)中的样品溶剂及连续进样等因素对化合物保留行为变化的影响规律。以超临界 CO2 或含低体积分数甲醇的 CO2 为流动相时 ,氨基柱上组分的保留时间随着样品溶剂的极性增大而增大 ,而溶剂对 C1 8柱上组分的保留时间影响不大 ;在 C1 8柱上 ,溶剂对连续进样的后续效应不强 ;而在氨基柱上 ,甲醇溶液的后续效应比丙酮、氯仿溶液的后续效应强。当甲醇的体积分数大于 1 .0 %时 ,溶剂的效应明显减弱。这种变化规律对填充柱 SFC的合理进样并获得重现性良好的色谱数据具有实际意义。