Monolithic rod columns for HPLC based on divinylbenzene-styrene copolymer with 1-vinylimidazole and 4-vinylpyridine

Monolithic chromatographic columns for HPLC based on divinylbenzene-styrene both with 1-vinylimidazole and with 4-vinylpyridine are prepared. The monoliths were synthesized in glass tubes with the inner diameter of 2?mm. Texture, hydrodynamic and chromatographic properties of the prepared columns were studied. Linear solvation energy relationships model was applied for the characterization of columns selectivity It is shown that changing the on 1-vinylimidazole or 4-vinylpyridine content in the initial solution allows to change the selectivity of the columns. An examples of small molecules and some proteins separations are presented.     

Monolithic columns in high-performance liquid chromatography

Monolithic media have been used for various niche applications in gas or liquid chromatography for a long time. Only recently did they acquire a major importance in high-performance column liquid chromatography (HPLC). The advent of monolithic silica standard- and narrow-bore columns and of several families of polymer-based monolithic columns has considerably changed the HPLC field, particularly in the area of narrow-bore columns. The origin of the concept, the differences between their characteristics and those of traditional packed columns, their advantages and drawbacks, the methods of preparation of monoliths of different forms, and the current status of the field are reviewed. The actual and potential performance of monolithic columns are compared with those of packed columns. Monolithic columns have considerable advantages, which makes them most useful in many applications of liquid chromatography. They are extremely permeable and offer a high efficiency that decreases slowly with increasing flow velocity.     

Monolithic columns based on a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene-methacrylic acid) copolymer for capillary liquid chromatography of small organic molecules

A very simple and readily performed method is described for the preparation of poly(styrene-divinylbenzene-methacrylic acid) monolithic columns for capillary liquid chromatography. The effect of the methacrylic acid content on the morphological and chromatographic properties has been investigated. Methacrylic acid is shown to be essential for isocratic separations of small organic analytes by capillary liquid chromatography. Column efficiencies of about 28,000 theoretical plates/m have been obtained for all the test compounds. The batch-to-batch and run-to-run repeatability of the retention times is better than 1.5%.     

Monolithic silica rod columns for high-efficiency reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Chromatographic properties of a new type of monolithic silica rod columns were examined. Silica rod columns employed for the study were prepared from tetramethoxysilane, modified with octadecylsilyl moieties, and encased in a stainless-steel protective column with two polymer layers between the silica and the stainless-steel tubing. A 25 cm column provided up to 45,000 theoretical plates for aromatic hydrocarbons, or a minimum plate height of about 5.5 μm, at optimum linear velocity of ca. 2.3 mm/s and back pressure of 7.5 MPa in an acetonitrile-water (80/20, v/v) mobile phase at 40°C. The permeability of the column was similar to that of a column packed with 5 μm particles, with K(F) about 2.4×10(-14) m(2) (based on the superficial linear velocity of the mobile phase), while the plate height value equivalent to that of a column packed with 2.5 μm particles. Generation of 80,000-120,000 theoretical plates was feasible with back pressure below 30 MPa by employing two or three 25 cm columns connected in series. The use of the long columns enabled facile generation of large numbers of theoretical plates in comparison with conventional monolithic silica columns or particulate columns. Kinetic plot analysis indicates that the monolithic columns operated at 30 MPa can provide faster separations than a column packed with totally porous 3-μm particles operated at 40 MPa in a range where the number of theoretical plates (N) is greater than 50,000.     

Standardization of test conditions for high performance liquid chromatography columns

Summary Comparisons of columns, column packings and column packing methods are made difficult and sometimes invalidated by differences and inadequacies in the test procedures used and the experimental data recorded. This paper reviews test procedures and recommends standards for a) the experimental and test parameters which must be recorded in order to enable comparisons to be made from laboratory to laboratory, b) the group of chromatographic parameters which best represent column performance for comparative purposes, with methods for their calculation, c) test solutes and eluents for some different types of packing materials. A computer program in BASIC is given which converts the experimental parameters into relevant chromatographic parameters.     

Monolithic capillary columns for liquid chromatography on the basis of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate

The effects of the synthesis conditions and polymerization mixture composition on the characteristics of monolithic capillary columns prepared from ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were studied. It was demonstrated that the content of the monomer in the initial mixture only slightly influences the efficiency of the columns obtained but, at the same time, causes a significant change in their separation impedance. By contrast, the temperature of synthesis strongly affects both these parameters. The efficiency of monolithic capillary columns prepared under optimum conditions was found to correspond to that of columns packed with a 5-μm-grained sorbent; however, the separation impedance of the former is substantially lower. A typical chromatogram of separation of a test mixture is presented. Original Russian Text ? A.N. Kanat’eva, A.A. Korolev, E.N. Viktorova, A.A. Kurganov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 568–572.     

Monolithic silica columns with various skeleton sizes and through-pore sizes for capillary liquid chromatography

Reduction of through-pore size and skeleton size of a monolithic silica column was attempted to provide high separation efficiency in a short time. Monolithic silica columns were prepared to have various sizes of skeletons (approximately 1-2 microm) and through-pores (approximately 2-8 microm) in a fused-silica capillary (50-200 microm I.D.). The columns were evaluated in HPLC after derivatization to C18 phase. It was possible to prepare monolithic silica structures in capillaries of up to 200 microm I.D. from a mixture of tetramethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane. As expected, a monolithic silica column with smaller domain size showed higher column efficiency and higher pressure drop. High external porosity (> 80%) and large through-pores resulted in high permeability (K = 8 x 10(-14) -1.3 x 10(-12) m2) that was 2-30 times higher than that of a column packed with 5-mirom silica particles. The monolithic silica columns prepared in capillaries produced a plate height of about 8-12 microm with an 80% aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase at a linear velocity of 1 mm/s. Separation impedance, E, was found to be as low as 100 under optimum conditions, a value about an order of magnitude lower than reported for conventional columns packed with 5-microm particles. Although a column with smaller domain size generally resulted in higher separation impedance and the lower total performance, the monolithic silica columns showed performance beyond the limit of conventional particle-packed columns under pressure-driven conditions.     

Selectivity tuning of serially coupled columns in high performance liquid chromatography

The tuning of selectivity by changing the flow rate has been investigated in HPLC: two columns with different retention characteristics were coupled in series via a T-piece and the relative retention of components chromatographed on the system were changed by varying the individual flow rates in the coupled columns. The flow rate alteration was performed by adding a second flow after the first column. The flow rate ratio necessary for optimum resolution can be easily calculated on the basis of the capacity factors measured on the individual columns. The performance of this method for adjusting selectivity has been demonstrated by using different column combinations to separate several mixtures containing chlorophenols, nitroaromatic compounds, and aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Surfactant-bound monolithic columns for separation of proteins in capillary high performance liquid chromatography

A surfactant-bound monolithic stationary phase based on the co-polymerization of 11-acrylamino-undecanoic acid (AAUA) is designed for capillary high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using D-optimal design, the effect of the polymerization mixture (concentrations of monomer, crosslinker and porogens) on the chromatographic performance (resolution and analysis time) of the AAUA–EDMA monolithic column was evaluated. The polymerization mixture was optimized using three proteins as model test solutes. The D-optimal design indicates a strong dependence of chromatographic parameters on the concentration of porogens (1,4-butanediol and water) in the polymerization mixture. Optimized solutions for fast separation and high resolution separation, respectively, were obtained using the proposed multivariate optimization. Differences less than 6.8% between the predicted and the experimental values in terms of resolution and retention time indeed confirmed that the proposed approach is practical. Using the optimized column, fast separation of proteins could be obtained in 2.5 min, and a tryptic digest of myoglobin was successfully separated on the high resolution column. The physical properties (i.e., morphology, porosity and permeability) of the optimized monolithic column were thoroughly investigated. It appears that this surfactant-bound monolith may have a great potential as a new generation of capillary HPLC stationary phase.     

Performance and lifetime of slurry packed capillary columns for high performance liquid chromatography

Fused silica capillary columns of the internal diameter of 320 μm were packed with the Nucleosil C18 stationary phase of 5 μm using the slurry packing method. The time of the bed compaction phase, packing pressure, and the use of ultrasound varied to study their influence on the column performance. Van Deemter curves were measured and separation impedance values were calculated in order to assess both separation efficiency and kinetic performance of the columns. Selected columns were tested again after nine months to evaluate the stability of their beds. Separation efficiencies of all columns were similar, but a major difference, caused by the use of ultrasound, was observed in the bed stability. Columns sonicated for 25 minutes during the bed compaction phase exhibited unchanged performance in the course of several months, while the performance of non-sonicated columns decreased.     

Porous-layer capillary gas chromatography columns with a hybrid structured sorbent based on alkyltriethoxysilane

Porous-layer capillary columns with a hybrid organic-inorganic sorbent based on structured silica are described. Properties of the prepared columns are discussed. Examples of separating C₁–C₄ hydrocarbons and a mixture of solvents on the obtained columns are presented. It is shown that changes in the organic component content of the original sol make it possible to control the selectivity of porous-layer columns.     

A simple terminator for high efficiency liquid chromatography columns

A comparison is made between a flat bottom column terminator and a cone terminator on. 1.27 cm O.D. and 2.54 cm O.D. columns. The cone terminator results in a doubling of the column efficiency, is simple and inexpensive, and is universally adaptable to any diameter column.     

Characterization of warfarin unusual peak profiles on oligoproline chiral high performance liquid chromatography columns

Unusual peak profiles of warfarin were characterized on two oligoproline chiral stationary phases (CSPs). The pattern of 1st peak (S(−)) broadening and the 2nd peak (R(+)) compression was observed under mobile phase of hexane (0.1% TFA)/2-propanol (IPA) on a triproline CSP 1, and with other alcohol modifier such as ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol as well. Through analyzing system peak of additives, the unusual peak profile was interpreted by perturbation of TFA additive system peak. The unusual peak profile was also found in enantioseparation of coumachlor and on a covalently bonded doubly tethered diproline CSP 2. The pattern of 1st peak (S(−)) broadening and the 2nd peak (R(+)) compression can change to pattern of 1st peak compression and the 2nd peak broadening from 15 to 50 °C. Chiral separation of warfarin created nonlinear van’t Hoff plots on CSP. No peak broadening/compression were observed with methyl tertiary butyl ether or ethyl acetate as the modifier. The peak shapes of the two warfarin enantiomers can thus be tuned by varying alcohol concentration and column temperature. High separation factor and resolution may be carried out to tune the peak profiles into Langmuir/anti-Langmuir band-shape composition. Using none hydrogen donor modifier may avoid interference of the TFA system peak.     

Polymeric columns for liquid chromatography

Polymeric columns are becoming used more frequently in modern liquid chromatography applications as improvements in polymeric packing materials are realized and as more applications are developed for these materials. Modern polymers have overcome earlier problems associated with their use; higher rigidity now allows them to be used at normal eluent flow rates resulting in faster analyses, and improved synthesis techniques have resulted in efficiencies comparable to the best silica materials, sometimes exceeding 100,000 plates/m. In addition, polymers offer distinct advantages over silica packing for particular applications. Because silica packings are readily degraded by aqueous eluents, they are not always suitable for separations involving ionic species. Polymeric columns are particularly useful in determinations of amino acids, peptides, proteins, organic acids, carbohydrates, and inorganic cations and anions. Polymers are also characterized by exceptional lot-to-lot reproducibility. Reproducibility is often problematic with silica packings, particularly the bonded phases.     

Monolithic silica columns functionalized with substituted polyproline‐derived chiral selectors as chiral stationary phases for high‐performance liquid chromatography

In this study, two polyproline‐derived chiral selectors are bonded to monolithic silica gel columns. In spite of high chiral selector coverage, the derivatization was found to have only a slight effect on the hydrodynamics of the mobile phase through the column. The enantioseparation ability of the resulting chiral monolithic columns was evaluated with a series of structurally diverse racemic test compounds. When compared to analogous bead‐based chiral stationary phases, higher enantioseparation and broader application domain were observed for monolithic columns. Moreover, the increase in flow rate produces a minor reduction of resolution, which permits to shorten analysis time. Additionally, increased loadability defines chiral polyproline derived monoliths as adequate for preparative chromatography.     

Application of polymer based stationary phases in high performance liquid chromatography and capillary high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to microcoil 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The increased demand for chromatographic materials that are able to achieve a fast separation of large quantities of structure analogues is a great challenge. It is known that polymer based chromatographic materials have a higher loadability, compared to silica based sorbents. Unfortunately these polymer materials cannot be used under high pressure which is necessary in order to obtain high flow rates, and hence long times are needed to perform a separation. However, by immobilizing a polymer on a mechanically stable porous silica core, this problem can be circumvented and higher flows become feasible on these materials. Especially for capillary liquid chromatography hyphenated with nuclear magnetic resonance a high loadability is of great importance in order to obtain sharp, resolved, and concentrated peaks thus resulting in a good signal to noise ratio in the NMR experiment. Therefore, a highly shape selective chromatographic sorbent was developed by covalently immobilizing a poly(ethylene-co-acrylic) acid copolymer (-CH(2)CH(2)-)(x)[CH(2)CH(CO(2)H)-](y) (x=119, y=2.4) with a mass fraction of acrylic acid of 5% as stationary phase on silica via a spacer molecule (3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane). First, the loadability of this sorbent compared to C(30) is demonstrated by the HPLC separation of two xanthophyll isomers. Subsequently, it has been successfully employed in the hyphenation of capillary HPLC with microcoil (1)H NMR spectroscopy by separating and identifying a highly concentrated solution of the tocopherol homologues.     

Monolithic bed structure for capillary liquid chromatography

Monolithic stationary phases show promise for LC as a result of their good permeability, ease of preparation and broad selectivity. Inorganic silica monoliths have been extensively studied and applied for separation of small molecules. The presence of a large number of through pores and small skeletal structure allows the chromatographic efficiencies of silica monoliths to be comparable to columns packed with 5 μm silica particles, at much lower back pressure. In comparison, organic polymeric monoliths have been mostly used for separation of bio-molecules; however, recently, applications are expanding to small molecules as well. Organic monoliths with high surface areas and fused morphology rather than conventional globular morphology have shown good performance for small molecule separations. Factors such as domain size, through-pore size and mesopore size of the monolithic structures have been found to govern the efficiency of monolithic columns. The structure and performance of monolithic columns are reviewed in comparison to particle packed columns. Studying and characterizing the bed structures of organic monolithic columns can provide great insights into their performance, and aid in structure-directed synthesis of new and improved monoliths.