Packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography of fat-soluble vitamins using liquid crystal polysiloxane coated particles

Summary Liquid crystal polysiloxane stationary phases were prepared by coating two different polymers on deactivated porous silica particles (10 m diameter, 80 Å pores). Deactivation of the silica particles before coating was necessary to prepare highly efficient and inert stationary phases for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Fat-soluble vitamins E, A, K₁, K₂, D₂, and D₃ were separated on these columns using neat supercritical CO₂ as mobile phase. The analyses were completed within 40 min at 70 °C. The results were compared to those obtained using a capillary column packed with less ordered liquid crystalm,m-cyanobiphenyl-substituted polysiloxane coated particles. Reduced shape selectivity was observed with this cyanobiphenyl phase. The response factors of vitamins A, E, K₁, K₂, D₂, and D₃ when using the flame ionization detector (FID) were determined to be very similar.     

Concurrent adsorption and complex formation in reversed-phase liquid-liquid chromatography with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide

Summary Reversed-phase liquid-liquid chromatographic systems consisting of an aqueous mobile phase and an organic liquid stationary phase of the proton acceptor tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) inn-decane, coated on LiChrosorb RP-8, have been studied. The solutes were hydrophilic aromatic carboxylic acids and phenol. The retention of the carboxylic acids shows a minimum at 10 mM of TOPO, whereas increasingly tailing peaks have been obtained with decreasing concentrations of TOPO. This behaviour is due to a concurrent complex formation by hydrogen bonding with TOPO in the liquid stationary phase and adsorption at the interface between the support and the liquid stationary phase. The adsorption of TOPO, ketones and aromatic acids from hexane on Li-Chrosorb RP-8 has been studied, and seems to be due to residual silanol groups. The adsorption isotherm of TOPO has been determined and can be described by a two-site Langmuir adsorption model. Non polar solutes are not adsorbed. The influence of TOPO on the retention and the peak symmetry of carboxylic acids in the liquid-liquid chromatographic system appears to be due to a competition between TOPO and the acids for the same adsorption sites. No competition was found for phenol.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography Using Carboxylic Acids in the Mobile Phase

Abstract

This report describes the use of different carboxylic acids as mobile phase modifiers. The effect on retention of acid chain length, pH, and eluent composition for a series of phenylalkanols, phenol, and the amines aniline, N-methylaniline, and benzylamine is discussed. The retention of both neutral and positively charged compounds is influenced by the dissociation equilibrium of the carboxylic acid in the mobile phase. By using l-pentanol to coat excess exposed silanol groups on the reversed phase column used, the inflection in the retention of both neutral and charged solutes as pH is changed occurs at the pK_a of the acid in the mobile phase. In addition, by using an acid and amine with the same or similar pK_a values, selective ion-pairing of this pair over others with dissimilar pK_a values can be promoted. Application of this technique to the selective retention of amino acids and peptides was unsuccessful.     

Fast supercritical fluid chromatography using capillaries packed with nonporous particles

Summary Packed columns containing microparticles provide high column efficiency per unit time and strong retention characteristics compared with open tubular columns, and they are favored for fast separations. Nonporous particles eliminate the contribution of solute mass transfer resistance in the intraparticle void volume characteristic of porous particles, and they should be more suitable for fast separations. In this paper, the evaluation of nonporous silica particles of sizes ranging from 5 to 25 μm in packed capillary columns for fast supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using neat CO₂ is reported. These particles were first deactivated using polymethyl-hydrosiloxanes and then encapsulated with a methylphenylpolysiloxane stationary phase. The retention factors, column efficiencies, column efficiencies per unit time, separation resolution, and separation resolution per unit time for fast SFC were determined for various length capillaries packed with various sizes of polymerencapsulated nonporous particles. It was found that 15 μm nonporous particles provided the highest column efficiency per unit time and resolution per unit time for fast packed capillary SFC. Under certain conditions, separations were completed in less than 1 min. Several thermally labile silylation reagent samples were separated in times less than 5 min. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

Inorganic gas chromatography

Summary The possibilities of using gas-solid chromatography as a method for the separation of trace amounts of various elements such as volatile chlorides or oxychlorides are investigated. The use of quartz as the column material and graphite, quartz or quartz coated with different ionic chlorides of low volatility as the stationary phase allows the use of temperatures up to 1100 K and consequently the separation of many elements as chlorides. The theory of linear equilibrium chromatography is applied successfully to the investigation of the influence of temperature and the type of solid (stationary) phase, in order to optimize separations. The dependence of the peak width on the various parameters is more complex, but several general principles can be derived from the experimental results. From these data physicochemical properties of the adsorbate-adsorbent systems investigated can be derived, and the optimum conditions for isothermal separations can be estimated.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography of imidazole derivatives

Summary The aim of this work was to use SFC to separate simple, slightly basic, imidazole derivatives which are used for the synthesis of more complex molecules with therapeutic properties. Control of their purity utilizes separation techniques and this paper shows what SFC can do in comparison with LC which requires derivatization before detection and with GC where peak tailing can be a problem. Our results concern the use of sub-critical mixtures of CO₂ and polar modifiers because imidazole derivatives react with neat CO₂, thus failing to elute from packed columns, and are only partially resolved on capillary columns with neat N₂O. Therefore, separations with CO₂-alcohol-amine-water mixtures on aminopropyl-bonded silica with UV detection are discussed. The resolution and sensitivity limits allow real sample analysis within a very short time.     

Feasibility of ultra high performance supercritical neat carbon dioxide chromatography at conventional pressures

The implementation of columns packed with sub-2 μm particles in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is described using neat carbon dioxide as the mobile phase. A conventional supercritical fluid chromatograph was slightly modified to reduce extra column band broadening. Performances of a column packed with 1.8 μm C18-bonded silica particles in SFC using neat carbon dioxide as the mobile phase were compared with results obtained in ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) using a dedicated chromatograph. As expected and usual in SFC, higher linear velocities than in UHPLC must be applied in order to reach optimal efficiency owing to higher diffusion coefficient of solutes in the mobile phase; similar numbers of theoretical plates were obtained with both techniques. Very fast separations of hydrocarbons are presented using two different alkyl-bonded silica columns.     

Chiral separation of amines in subcritical fluid chromatography using polysaccharide stationary phases and acidic additives

The chiral separation of basic compounds by subcritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is often unsuccessful, due possibly to multiple interactions of the analyte with the mobile and stationary phase. Incorporation of a strong acid, ethanesulfonic acid (ESA), into the sample diluent and mobile phase modifier gives a dramatic improvement in these separations. Screening with ethanol containing 0.1% ESA on CHIRALPAK AD-H gave separation of 36 of 45 basic compounds previously not separated in SFC. The mechanism appears to involve the separation of an intact salt pair formed between the basic compound and ESA. Other modifiers, other acids and one additional stationary phase were examined and found to yield additional separations.     

Enantioseparation of flurbiprofen on amylose-derived chiral stationary phase by supercritical fluid chromatography

The separation of the enantiomers of flurbiprofen on an amylose-derived chiral stationary phase, Chiralpak AD-H, by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) under both linear and non-linear conditions is studied. Pulse injections were implemented using supercritical CO₂modified with methanol as a mobile phase at a temperature of 30 °$°$C. At linear conditions, the isotherm is determined directly from the chromatogram. Under overload conditions, the elution profiles were described by competitive Langmuir and bi-Langmuir isotherm. Isotherm parameters were estimated using the inverse method and the effects of operation variables such as pressure and modifier composition were studied. The value of selectivity is from 1.9 to 2.1 while the value of resolution is from 5.3 to 11.8. The number of theoretical plates is always greater than 5000 indicating high efficiency of SFC.     

Separation of Cs and Sr using polyoxonium compounds

Extraction separation and concentration of Cs and Sr from aqueous solutions, containing macroconcentrations of competitive ions (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe³⁺) by the nitrobenzene solutions of bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate in the presence of linear and cyclic polyoxonium compounds (POC) has been investigated. It has been found, that the addition of DB18C6 increases the distribution ratio of cesium (D_cs) but the addition of other crowns and PEG decreases D_Cs value and selectivity of D_Sr and the selectivity of Sr/Ca separation. Separation factors of Sr/Ca increase from (Sr/Ca)2 (found in the absence of POD) to (Sr/Ca)50 (for DB18C6), (Sr/Ca)100 (for 18C6 and DCH18C6) and (Sr/Ca)1000 for 15C5.     

Demonstration of a linear composition gradient during water saturation of CO2 in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Water was added to CO₂ by saturation to increase the solvation power of the mobile phase in supercritical fluid chromatography. The saturation was performed at a temperature above the boiling point of water (100°C) to increase the amount of water which could be loaded homogeneously into the CO₂ (2.5–3.0 mol% water as compared to about 0.25 mol% water at 25°C). A linear composition of water was produced by altering the density of the CO₂ during saturation. Modifications to the injector and CO₂ transfer lines prevented phase separation as a result of the instrumentation used in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). After fitting vapor-liquid equilibria data to pressure, density, and temperature conditions, approximately 2.5–3.0 mol% of water was introduced in a linear gradient at 110°C. The effect of water on SFC performance was evaluated with standard steroid compounds. This paper provides further evidence for the need to examine vapor-liquid equilibria data prior to SFC.     

Mixed-conducting dense ceramic membranes for air separation and natural gas conversion

Non-perovskite SrFeCo_0.5O _x (SFC2) was found to have high electronic and ionic conductivities as well as structural stability. At 800°C in air, total and ionic conductivities of 17 and 7 S·cm⁻¹ were measured, respectively; the ionic transference number was calculated to be ≈0.4. This material is unique because of its high electronic conductivity and comparable electronic and ionic transference numbers. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that air-sintered SFC2 consists of three phase components, ≈75 wt% , ≈20 wt% perovskite , and ≈5 wt% rock salt CoO. Argon-annealed SFC2 contains brownmillerite Sr₂(Fe_1−x Co _x )₂O₅ and rock salt CoO. Dense SFC2 membranes were able to withstand large pO₂ gradients and retain mechanical strength. A 2.9-mm-thick disk membrane was tested in a gas-tight electrochemical cell at 900°C; an oxygen permeation flux rate ≈2.5 cm³(STP)·cm⁻²·min⁻¹ was measured. A dense thin-wall tubular membrane of 0.75-mm thickness was tested in a methane conversion reactor for over 1,000 h. At 950°C, the oxygen permeation flux rate was ≈10 cm³(STP)·cm⁻²·min⁻¹ when the SFC2 thin-wall membrane was exposed with one side to air and the other side to 80% methane balanced with inert gas. Results from these two independent experiments agreed well. The SFC2 material is a good candidate as dense ceramic membranes for oxygen separation from air or for use in methane conversion reactors.     

HPLC of aminoacids on silica coated with ammonium tungstophosphate

Summary The chromatographic behaviour of aminoacids on columns of silica coated with different percentages of ammonium tungstophosphate at several buffer phosphate concentrations is reported. The stationary phase shows a high selectivity towards aminobutyric acids and methyl derivatives of tryptophan due to the distance between the carboxylic group and the –NH ₃ ⁺ group involved in the cation-exchange process and/or to the steric hindrance by a methyl substituent. A relationship between HPLC and HPTLC data has been verified and applied to the prediction of the separation of six aminoacids.     

Silica grafted with silanized carbon dots as a nano-on-micro packing material with enhanced hydrophilic selectivity

Carbon dots derivatized from N-(β-aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl-methyldimethoxysilane (AEAPMS) were coated onto silica microparticles. These particles (Sil-CDs) are shown to be an excellent stationary phase for use in hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Analytes including sulfonamides, nucleosides and bases, flavones and amino acids can be well separated on this stationary phase. Compared to a silica stationary phase functionalized with AEAPMS only, the Sil-CDs show enhanced separation performance. The selectivity factors of three nucleosides and bases (1.02–1.09) and four sulfonamides (1.04–1.11) on AEAPMS functionalized silica stationary phase were improved to 1.10–1.20 and 1.13–1.15 respectively on Sil-CDs stationary phase. This is attributed to the higher number of surface functional groups due to the introduction of carbon dots. The successful application of the Sil-CDs stationary phase highlights the potential of carbon dots as a modified material in chromatography.

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Graphical Abstract Schematic presentation of the preparation of silanized carbon dots coated onto silica microparticles. The material represents a new stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction chromatography. It shows improved separation performance compared to a silane-only functionalized silica stationary phase.

     

Calculations of pKa values of carboxylic acids in aqueous solution using Möller-Plesset perturbation theory

The acidity constants of some carboxylic acids in aqueous solution have been calculated. The calculations were carried out using Möller-Plesset (MP) perturbation theory. The Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM) is used to describe the solvent. This model furnishes pK_a values that agree more closely with experimental data than those obtained at the level of Hartree-Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT-B3LYP). The root-mean-square of errors of the calculated pK_a values are less than 1.0 for the studied acids. The molecules analyzed consist of acids with pK_a values in the range of 1.30 to 5.05, and have been partitioned into three classes. Class I includes acids with pK_a values higher than 4.00. Class II includes strong acids with pK_a values between 3.00 to 4.00. Class III includes very strong acids with pK_a values less than 3.00. The calculated pK_a values for the acids in Class I and Class II agree more closely with experimental values. The root-mean-square of errors for the Class I and Class II compounds are 0.70 and 0.78 pK_a units, respectively.     

Isomerisation and phase transitions in small sodium clusters

Using a distance-dependent tight-binding hamiltonian, we have studied the influence of the temperature on the geometries of small alkali clusters (Na₄, Na₈, and Na₂₀). We have applied a Monte-Carlo thermodynamical method which consists in performing canonical samplings for various temperatures, these samplings being reexpressed in the microcanonical ensemble. This method provides thermodynamical values such as the entropy and the specific heat. Their behaviour shows one phase transition in the case of Na₄ and Na₈, and two phase transitions for Na₂₀. As concerns Na₄ and Na₈, the transition occurs at 200 K, between a solid-like phase and a phase for which the geometry of these clusters oscillates between numerous shapes. In the case of Na₂₀, the two observed phase transitions can be described as a melting of the surface atoms (at 200 K) preliminarily to the fluctuation of an inner icosahedron seed (at 300 K).     

Reviews on recent trends in chromatography/mass spectrometry coupling. Part IV. Reasons why supercritical fluid chromatography is not so easily coupled with mass spectrometry as originally assessed

Summary When SFC was rediscovered in the early 1980s, it was frequently estimated that a strong driving force to its development would be the ease of devising a simple SFC/MS interface. This was believed to be easily achieved if analytical conditions were limited to capillary SFC columns as a general separation tool, and to the choice of neat CO₂ as the unique supercritical fluid. The low flow rate of mobile phase delivered by capillary columns was easy to accommodate by the vacuum equipment of standard mass spectrometers, and the specific physical properties of CO₂ made possible solute ionization by different ion-molecule reactions, especially charge exchange ionization. This approach has lived up to all of its promises. The major causes of the observed mismatch are the large variations of the MS source pressure as a result of the CO₂ pressure gradient at the SFC column inlet, the low sensitivity of charge exchange ionization at these high MS source pressures, and the inability to handle polar and nonvolatile molecules. Adaptation of LC/MS interfaces, such as the thermospray interface or the particle beam interface, to SFC/MS conditions was a step forward, but these devices have their own limitations. Alternative methods to direct SFC/MS coupling have been investigated recently. They are based on the use of packed columns rather than capillaries, and on solute ionization at atmospheric pressure rather than under a vacuum, by means of either gas-phase corona discharge ionization or liquidphase electrospray ionization. These new developments may revive research into the design of reproducible and sensitive SFC/MS systems where the number of recent studies is still low compared with other chromatography/mass spectrometry coupling studies.See [1] for part III     

Evaluation and application of liquid chromatographic columns coated with 'intelligent' ligands: (I) acylcarnitine column

Unique stationary phases of octadecylsilica (ODS) coated with acylcarnitines have been developed for liquid chromatographic columns. The ODS column coated with acylcarnitine was readily prepared by recycling the solution containing acylcarnitine through an ODS column in a closed loop. Acylcarnitine was adsorbed on the ODS surfaces by hydrophobic interaction between the acyl group of acylcarnitine and the octadecyl group of the ODS phases. The ODS column coated with stearoylcarnitine (CN-18 column) was the most stable among the four columns coated with acylcarnitines of various acyl chain lengths (decanoylcarnitine, lauroylcarnitine, myristoylcarnitine, and stearoylcarnitine) under the condition of delivery of the mobile phase, indicating that adsorption of acylcarnitine on the ODS surfaces depended on the length of acyl chains. The CN-18 column was usable for delivering the mobile phase contained less than 20% (v/v) acetonitrile, retaining almost the same separation efficiency as the intact ODS column. The retention behavior of ionic solutes on the CN-18 column could be explained by both ionic and electrostatic interactions between the solutes and the stationary phase. The CN-18 column enabled efficient separation of inorganic anions, nicotinic acids, amino acids, and nucleotides. The chiral ODS column coated with enantiomer of stearoylcarnitine, L-stearoylcarnitine (L-CN-18 column) could achieve direct enantiomeric separation of DL-tryptophan, alpha-methyl-DL-tryptophan and DL-3-indolelactic acid using 100% water as the mobile phase. The L-CN-18 column could also separate enantiomers of amino acids and alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids by ligand-exchange chromatographic mode using a mobile phase containing copper(II) ion. The chiral recognition is discussed for enantiomeric separation on the L-CN-18 column.     

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.