Separation of polar betalain pigments from cacti fruits of Hylocereus polyrhizus by ion-pair high-speed countercurrent chromatography

Polar betacyanin pigments together with betaxanthins from ripe cactus fruits of Hylocereus polyrhizus (Cactaceae) were fractionated by means of preparative ion-pair high-speed countercurrent chromatography (IP-HSCCC) also using the elution–extrusion (EE) approach for a complete pigment recovery. HSCCC separations were operated in the classical ‘head-to-tail’ mode with an aqueous mobile phase. Different CCC solvent systems were evaluated in respect of influence and effectiveness of fractionation capabilities to separate the occurring pigment profile of H. polyrhizus. For that reason, the additions of two different volatile ion-pair forming perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA) were investigated. For a direct comparison, five samples of Hylocereus pigment extract were run on preparative scale (900 mg) in 1-butanol–acetonitrile–aqueous TFA 0.7% (5:1:6, v/v/v) and the modified systems tert.-butyl methyl ether–1-butanol–acetonitrile–aqueous PFCA (2:2:1:5, v/v/v/v) using 0.7% and 1.0% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) or heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) in the aqueous phase, respectively. The chemical affinity to the organic stationary CCC solvent phases and in consequence the retention of these highly polar betalain pigments was significantly increased by the use of the more lipophilic fluorinated ion-pair reagent HFBA instead of TFA. The HFBA additions separated more effectively the typical cacti pigments phyllocactin and hylocerenin from betanin as well as their iso-forms. Unfortunately, similar K_D ratios and selectivity factors α around 1.0–1.1 in all tested solvent systems proved that the corresponding diastereomers, 15S-type pigments cannot be resolved from the 15R-epimers (iso-forms). Surprisingly, additions of the stronger ion-pair reagent (HFBA) resulted in a partial separation of hylocerenin from phyllocactin which were not resolved in the other solvent systems. The pigments were detected by means of HPLC-DAD and HPLC-electrospray ionization–MS using also authentic reference materials.     

Computer-assisted optimization of reversed-phase HPLC isocratic separation of neutral compounds

An appropriate optimization strategy should be used to find a desired resolution or selectivity with a minimum number of experiments in a limited time, which could assure the baseline separation of all target compounds. It was usually realized by means of a specialized computer program. In this paper, mapping optimization method and overlapping resolution mapping were compared for the optimization of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) isocratic separation of neutral compounds. The calculated resolutions and separation time of 7 to 10 experiments are fitted by different equations, which were used to build a contour plot with a minimum effective resolution and maximum retention time as a function of a mobile phase composition. The balance between resolution and analysis time could be easily realized by the overlapping of the final overlapping resolution mapping and analysis time mapping. The validity of the two methods was confirmed by some typical experiments. The models are simple, visual, and common without theoretical arithmetic.     

Preparative scale reversed-phase HPLC method for simultaneous separation of carotenoids and carotenoid esters

Summary A method is described for the preparative HPLC of carotenoids and carotenoid esters using a self-packing axially-compressed column. The reversed-phase system used employs an RP-18 stationary phase and a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of petroleum spirit, acetonitrile, methanol and tetrahydrofuran. The method is demonstrated for paprika fruit, rose hips and marigold flowers.     

A novel silica-based column packing for reversed-phase HPLC of basic compounds

Summary A novel bonded phase for reversed-phase HPLC was synthesized in two steps. Octylamine was first reacted with β-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane (β-ECTS) and then the intermediate product was coupled onto porous silica. The prepared packing was characterized by elemental analysis, solid-state¹³C NMR and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Chromatographic evaluations were carried out by using a mixture of organic compounds including acidic, basic and neutral analytes and methanol-water as binary mobile phase. The results showed that the stationary phase has excellent chromatographic properties and is resistant to hydrolysis between pH=2≈8. It can be used efficiently for the separation of basic compounds.     

On-line fluorescence detection in HPLC: A high sensitive technique for the measurement of low enzyme activities: The case of tryptophan-hydroxylase

Summary The use of on-line fluorescence detection after high-performance liquid chromatographic separation permits the direct quantitative analysis of the reaction mixture of enzymes with low activity. The application to the determination of tryptophan-hydroxylase in vitro as well as in vivo is described. The whole system has a detection limit of 0.1 g 5-hydroxytryptophan formed/hour/gram of brains.     

Microcomputer-assisted retention prediction system in reversed-phase HPLC

Summary The microcomputer-assisted retention prediction system in C₁₈ reversed-phase HPLC is described. The system is based on the use of the hydrophobic parameter and the correlation factor of alkylbenzenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are highly correlated to their retention in reversed-phase HPLC. The system is evaluated by comparing the retention data between measured and predicted values. One of the typical examples applied for PAH analysis in the extracts of diesel particulate matter shows the high potential of the system investigated.     

Development and validation of a HPLC method for the determination of buprenorphine hydrochloride, naloxone hydrochloride and noroxymorphone in a tablet formulation

A simple isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method (RP-HPLC) was developed for the simultaneous determination of buprenorphine hydrochloride, naloxone hydrochloride dihydrate and its major impurity, noroxymorphone, in pharmaceutical tablets. The chromatographic separation was achieved with 10 mmol L⁻¹ potassium phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 6.0 with orthophosphoric acid and acetonitrile (17:83, v/v) as mobile phase, a C-18 column, Perfectsil Target ODS3 (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) kept at 35 °C and UV detection at 210 nm. The compounds were eluted isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The average retention times for naloxone, noroxymorphone and buprenorphine were 2.4, 3.8 and 8.1 min, respectively. The method was validated according to the ICH guidelines. The validation characteristics included accuracy, precision, linearity, range, specificity, limit of quantitation and robustness. The calibration curves were linear (r > 0.996) over the concentration range 0.22-220 μg mL⁻¹ for buprenorphine hydrochloride and 0.1-100 μg mL⁻¹ for naloxone hydrochloride dihydrate and noroxymorphone. The recoveries for all three compounds were above 96%. No spectral or chromatographic interferences from the tablet excipients were found. This method is rapid and simple, does not require any sample preparation and is suitable for routine quality control analyses.     

Separation and identification of chiralN-acylcalix[4]arene amino acid derivatives by use of reversed-phase HPLC

Summary This work focuses on the separation and identification of p-tert butyl calix[4]arene derivatives. An isocratic mixture of 65% (v/v) acetonitrile and 35% (v/v) water with 0.1% (v/v) phosphoric acid was used as the mobile phase. A Bio-Rad Bio-Sil ODS-5S (250 mm×4 mm) column was used as the stationary phase with UV detection of the analytes at 274 nm. The reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method which was developed provided baseline separation of five p-tertbutyl calix[4]arene derivatives in twenty minutes.     

Parameters affecting the separation of intact proteins in gradient-elution reversed-phase chromatography using poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) monolithic capillary columns

An experimental study was performed to investigate the effects of column parameters and gradient conditions on the separation of intact proteins using styrene-based monolithic columns. The effect of flow rate on peak width was investigated at constant gradient steepness by normalizing the gradient time for the column hold-up time. When operating the column at a temperature of 60 °C a small C-term effect was observed in a flow rate range of 1–4 μL/min. However, the C-term effect on peak width is not as strong as the decrease in peak width due to increasing flow rate. The peak capacity increased according to the square root of the column length. Decreasing the macropore size of the polymer monolith while maintaining the column length constant, resulted in an increase in peak capacity. A trade-off between peak capacity and total analysis time was made for 50, 100, and 250 mm long monolithic columns and a microparticulate column packed with 5 μm porous silica particles while operating at a flow rate of 2 μL/min. The peak capacity per unit time of the 50 mm long monolithic column with small pore size was superior when the total analysis time is below 120 min, yielding a maximum peak capacity of 380. For more demanding separations the 250 mm long monolith provided the highest peak capacity in the shortest possible time frame.     

Development and validation of a rapid HPLC method for the determination of five banned fat-soluble colorants in spices using a narrow-bore monolithic column

This work reports a fast and simple liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of five banned fat-soluble synthetic colorants, namely Sudan I-IV and Para-Red, in spice samples. The analytes were successfully separated isocratically in less than 5 min on the new narrow bore monolithic column, FastGradient^® Chromolith (50 mm × 2.0 mm i.d.) using a mobile phase of 0.1% (v/v) HCOOH/acetonitrile (35/65%, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min⁻¹. All colorants were detected at 506 nm. The main parameters (mobile phase composition, flow rate, injection volume) affecting the separation were studied. The proposed method was thoroughly validated in terms of linearity, LODs, precision and accuracy. The method was applied to the determination of the studied azo-dyes in various spices (paprika, chilli and mixed spice powders) after ultrasound-assisted extraction. Satisfactory recoveries, ranging from 92% to 109% were obtained.     

牛奶中12种磺胺类药物残留的高效液相色谱测定方法

建立了高效液相色谱(HPLC)检测牛奶中12种磺胺类药物(磺胺二甲基嘧啶、磺胺间甲氧嘧啶、磺胺甲噁唑、磺胺对甲氧嘧啶、磺胺喹噁啉、磺胺氯哒嗪、磺胺氯吡嗪、磺胺嘧啶、磺胺噻唑、磺胺甲基嘧啶、磺胺甲噻二唑、磺胺地索辛)残留的方法,考察了样品的提取、净化及色谱分析条件。牛奶样经乙酸乙酯提取、固相萃取净化后上机分析,11种磺胺药物标准曲线在10~800μg/L,SM2在5~200μg/L质量浓度范围内相关系数r>0.999,回收率为76%~106%,相对标准偏差小于15.9%。检出限为5~8μg/L,定量下限为14~27μg/L。     

Development of an on-line immobilized-enzyme reversed-phase HPLC method for protein digestion and peptide separation

This paper describes use of a novel glass bead-based immobilized-enzyme micro column for simple and swift on-line protein digestion then peptide separation by reversed-phase HPLC. The inexpensive and easily made immobilized-enzyme micro column was prepared from aminopropyl controlled-pore glass that was reacted first with glutaraldehyde then with trypsin in the presence of phosphate buffer. Tryptic digestion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was achieved simply by passing pretreated protein solution through the laboratory made immobilized-trypsin column; the tryptic fragments were then separated by reversed-phase HPLC. The peptide separation was found to be identical to separation of a sample which had undergone conventional enzymatic protein digestion in solution. Digestion of BSA by the immobilized-trypsin column decreased with increasing flow rate of the solution through the column, and 1.0 μL min⁻¹ was found to be the optimum flow rate for on-line protein digestion with our system. It was also found that the sample required pretreatment with urea before injection, because of a change in the properties of the protein in the presence of urea, and the immobilized-trypsin column lost its function in the presence of acetonitrile. This on-line proteomics system enables simple and rapid protein digestion and was successfully applied to partially micro two-dimensional (2D) chromatographic separation of proteins.     

The use of tandem-mass spectrometry for pilot identification

Summary The direct analysis of mixtures by tandem-mass spectrometry assisted by off-line liquid chromatographymass spectrometry is already established as a rapid specific and extremely sensitive method that can be applied to samples of a variety of types for example, to analyses of main compounds and by-products in reaction mixtures, to products in medicated solutions or to fermentation products in more or less complex matrices. The techniques are demonstrated as pilot methods for obtaining structural information for identification or structure elucidation.     

Cloud-point extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of carbamate insecticide residues in fruits

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) method using Triton X-114 non-ionic surfactant was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of carbamate insecticide residues (i.e., methomyl, propoxur, carbofuran, carbaryl, isoprocarb, and promecarb) in fruit samples. The optimum conditions of CPE were 1.5% (w/v) Triton X-114, 7.0% (w/v) NaCl and 20 min equilibrated at 45 °C. The surfactant-rich phase was then analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 270 nm, under gradient separation using methanol and 0.1% (v/v) acetic acid. Under the study conditions, six carbamate insecticides were successfully separated within 27 min. Good reproducibility was obtained with the relative standard deviation of <3% for retention time and <9% for peak area. Limits of detection in the studied fruit samples were in the range of 0.1–1.0 mg kg⁻¹. No carbamate insecticides were detected in the studied fruit samples. The high recoveries of the spiked fruit samples were obtained in the range 80.0–107%. The CPE method has been shown to be a potential useful methodology for the preconcentration of the target analytes, with a preconcentration factor of 14. Moreover, the method is simple, has high sensitivity, consumes much less solvent than traditional methods, and is environmental friendly.     

Comparative study on separation of diastereomers by HPLC

Summary Reversed (RP-HPLC) and normal phase chromatographic (NP-HPLC) separations have been developed for diastereomers ofN-acyl-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydo-β-carbolines which are acylated derivatives of simple natural β-carboline alkaloids. Separations of derivatives having different acyl moieties in theO,O-diacyl-tartaric acid ester subtituent differed remarkably. Little or no resolution in either NP-HPLC or RP-HPLC could be achieved with the diacetyl-tartrate derivative. Base-line separation by RP-HPLC but no separation by NP-HPLC was possible with the bulkier and more apolar dipivaloyl derivative. Retention order of the bis-benzoylated diastereomers was reversed and separation time increased dramatically by RP-HPLC. Good separation of the medium polarity, but rigid,N-camphanyl derivative by NP-HPLC has been achieved, whereas RP-HPLC could not be used for separation of these diastereomers. Separability of different diastereomers was highly dependent on polarity and rigidity of the derivatizingN-acyl moieties. Conformational analysis by molecular mechanics and comparison of the lowest energy conformational states of the diastereomers was applied to rationalise separation-retention behaviour of stereoisomers by RP-HPLC. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001     

Dispersion measurements on conventional and miniaturised HPLC systems

Summary The volume dispersion produced by a number of commercial detector/injector (DI) system and of laboratory designed detector/injector systems has been measured by three different techniques: (A) by direct connection of injector to detector using a "zero-length" column; (B) by measuring the plate number N as a function of capacity ratio, k′; (C) by placing a 2m × 100μm bore straight open tube between injector and detector, and subtracting the contribution from the tube according to the Taylor-Aris equation. Setting as a criterion of adequate performance that there should be less than a 10% loss in plate efficiency due to the DI system for an unretained solute peak, it is found that in general the commercial systems examined show excessive dispersion in relation to the types of column for which they are claimed to have been designed. A 1μl flow cell designed in our laboratories offers a standard deviation below 1μl and is a possible candidate for use with miniaturised systems. However, extreme precautions to avoid extra-column dispersion must be taken. The column must enter into the detector cell and injection must be by flow splitter. It is considered unlikely that current HPLC technology can be adapted for use with high efficiency columns of bore below 2mm. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Chromatographic behaviour of flavonoid compounds in reversed-phase HPLC systems

Summary Reversed-phase HPLC retention behaviour of different flavonoid compounds in different columns and with a range of methanol-buffer eluents was examined. Repeatibility and reproducibility of logk′ and Δlogk′ values were analyzed. Sharp group contributions, expressed as Δlogk′, were observed. These did not depend significantly on acid modifier type, column packing characteristics (C8 and C18) and dimensions (5,7 and 10μm) or the percentage of methanol in the mobile phase. A list of twelve group contributions is presented which is in agreement with literature data.     

Automated off-line optimisation of programmed elutions in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using ternary solvent mixtures

A new system for the unattended optimisation of gradient elutions in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed. The system is based on the simulation of retention times under conditions of ternary solvent mixtures and ternary gradient programmes. This model is constructed departing from a few experimental data obtained in isocratic elutions and validated against experimental gradient elutions. Once validated, this retention model can be used for the unattended search of an optimum separation. The optimisation process is driven by an evolutionary algorithm (EA), specially developed to map the ternary gradient elutions problem. The development and characteristics of the retention modelling as well as those of the EA and its particularities are discussed and some real world examples of separation presented.