Microfabricated refractive index gradient based detector for reversed-phase liquid chromatography with mobile phase gradient elution

Typical refractive index (RI) detectors for liquid chromatography (LC) are not well suited to application with mobile phase gradient elution, due to the difficulty in correcting for the detected baseline shift during the gradient. We report a sensitive, highly reproducible, microfabricated refractive index gradient (micro-RIG) detector that performs well with mobile phase gradient elution LC. Since the micro-RIG signal remains on-scale throughout the mobile phase gradient, one can apply a baseline correction procedure. We demonstrate that by collecting two mobile phase gradient blanks and subtracting one of them from the other, a reproducible, flat baseline is achieved. Therefore, subtracting a blank from a separation provides a baseline corrected chromatogram with reasonably high signal-to-noise ratio for eluting analytes. The micro-RIG detector uses a collimated diode laser beam to optically probe a RIG formed perpendicular to the laminar flow direction within a microfabricated borosilicate glass chip. The chip-based design of the detector is suitable for either traditional bench-top or LC-on-a-chip technologies. We report reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separations of proteins and polymers, over mobile phase gradient conditions of 67% A:33% B to 3% A:97% B by volume, where A is 96% methanol:3.9% water:0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and B is 3.9% methanol:96% water:0.1% TFA. The separations were performed on a Jupiter 5 mu C4 300 A 150 mm x 1.0 mm Phenomenex column at a flow rate of 20 microl/min. Viscosity changes during the mobile phase gradient separation are found to shift the on-chip merge position of the detected concentration gradient (i.e., RIG), in a reproducible fashion. However, this viscosity effect makes detection sensitivity vary throughout the mobile phase gradient, due to moving the optimized position of the probe beam in relation to the analyte concentration gradient being probed. None-the-less, consistent limits of detection (LODs) were achieved. The 3-sigma deflection angle LOD was 16 microrad for micro-RIG detection, corresponding to an injected concentration LOD of 7 ppm (mass/mass) for cytochrome c.     

Design of mobile phase composition for liquid chromatography with an internal pH gradient

Summary A method is suggested for calculating the mobile phase composition for ion exchange chromatography with an internal pH gradient. An internal pH gradient of the desired steepness can be achieved providing the titration curve of the sorbent is known. The procedure has been verified by use in the design of a mobile phase composed from few anionic buffers for generation of internal pH gradient on a microcolumn packed with a cation exchanger with carboxylic functional groups.     

pH gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography as a fractionation tool for the separation of peptides

Recent reports from our laboratory presented a comprehensive theory and demonstrated feasibility of reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) employing the programmed gradient of pH of the mobile phase. The aim of that work was to explore the usefulness of the pH gradient-based approach in fractionation of peptides. The experiments were performed on a series of peptides separated at various LC conditions. Retention parameters of peptides in the pH gradient and in the simultaneous pH/organic modifier gradient RP-LC were compared. The best results were obtained with eluents comprising low but constant concentrations of organic modifier while gradient of pH in the mobile phase was developed several times during each chromatographic run. The elaborated LC conditions allowed controlling the elution of peptides not only according to their hydrophobic properties, but also taking into account their electronic properties, represented by isoelectric point (pI) values. The combination of isocratic (regarding organic modifier) LC mode with recurring eluent pH gradient is proposed as an effective fractionation method of peptide mixtures. Moreover, information on hydrophobicity and pI of the peptides, obtained by that approach, might be an additional peptides database matching constraint. Hence, a new tool for analytical and bioinformatics studies of peptides fractionation is proposed.     

Dimethylformamide as a mobile phase component in reversed-phase liquid column chromatography on octadecylsilica

Summary N,N-Dimethylformamide selectively accelerates the elution of weakly basic compounds and reduces their tailing in reversed-phase liquid chromatography with aqueous organic mobile phases. This effect is demonstrated with two types of octadecylsilica packings for representative solutes, covering aromatic amines and N-heterocyclic compounds such as pyridine, pyrimidine and purine derivatives.     

A new method for the determination of mobile phase volume in normal and reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary A new method for the determination of the mobile phase volume (V _m) in liquid chromatography is presented based on the model regarding the retention of ionic solutes in the presence of eluent electrolytes. TheV _m value can be determined by measuring the retention volumes of two ions that have the same charge in two eluent electrolyte systems. Compared with the methods using isotopically labelled eluent components or inorganic salts asV _m markers, the method presented is proved to give more reasonableV _m values for both normal and reversed-phase liquid chromatography. As well as in binary mixed solvent systems, theV _m values in single solvent systems can be determined by this method.     

Study of overload for basic compounds in reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography as a function of mobile phase pH

The retention and overloading properties for eight basic solutes and two quaternary ammonium compounds were studied over the pH range 2.7-10.0 using phosphate and carbonate buffers. At low pH, a hybrid inorganic-organic silica-ODS phase (XTerra RP-18, 15 cm x 0.46 cm) showed substantial loss in efficiency when sample masses exceeded about 0.5 microg; these results were similar to those obtained previously on pure silica ODS and wholly polymeric phases, suggesting a common overloading mechanism. At pH 7-8.5, substantial improvements in loading capacity were obtained on XTerra due apparently to the unexpectedly strong influence of small decreases in solute ionisation. Data from the quaternary compounds suggested that silanol ionisation on this phase was still small even at intermediate pH. For many bases, loading capacity continued to improve as the pH was raised to 10, in line with the decrease in the proportion of ionised solute. However, for the highest pK(a) solutes, peak shape worsened at high pH, possibly due to the negative influence of increasing column silanol ionisation.     

Determination of the pH of binary mobile phases for reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The measurement of pH in chromatographic mobile phases has been a constant subject of discussion during many years. The pH of the mobile phase is an important parameter that determines the chromatographic retention of many analytes with acid-base properties. In many instances a proper pH measurement is needed to assure the accuracy of retention-pH relationships or the reproducibility of chromatographic procedures. Three different methods are common in pH measurement of mobile phases: measurement of pH in the aqueous buffer before addition of the organic modifier, measurement of pH in the mobile phase prepared by mixing aqueous buffer and organic modifier after pH calibration with standard solutions prepared in the same mobile phase solvent, and measurement of pH in the mobile phase prepared by mixing aqueous buffer and organic modifier after pH calibration with aqueous standard solutions. This review discusses the different pH measurement and calibration procedures in terms of the theoretical and operational definitions of the different pH scales that can be applied to water-organic solvent mixtures. The advantages and disadvantages of each procedure are also presented through chromatographic examples. Finally, practical recommendations to select the most appropriate pH measurement procedure for particular chromatographic problems are given.     

Influence of the mobile phase on salmon calcitonin analysis by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The retention properties of calcitonins on a reversed-phase column are examined using salmon calcitonin as the model compound. The effect of the concentration of organic modifier, buffer strength, pH of the mobile phase, and ion-pair reagent are studied. In the absence of an ionic modifier in the eluent the calcitonin peak shapes are not symmetrical. The addition of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), however, results in good peak characteristics without the need to add nonvolatile salts. The retention of the calcitonins was found to be very sensitive to the concentration of the organic modifier (acetonitrile) present in the mobile phase. A change of pH between 2 and 5 has only a slight effect of the k' of salmon calcitonin, but the k' increases significantly at higher pH values. The addition of a phosphate buffer to the mobile phase and an increase in the buffer concentration (0-0.2 M) causes a decrease in the retention of salmon calcitonin. Evidence shows that reproducible, quantitatively measurable data can be obtained using reversed-phase chromatography if the ion-pairing reagent and organic modifier concentrations are carefully controlled. The system also shows a good selectivity for the calcitonin series. Therefore, both highly selective methods (qualitative) as well as quantitative methods for analytical, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing use can be developed by adjusting the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) conditions as discussed.     

Influence of mobile phase composition on surface diffusion in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Influence of column temperature and mobile phase composition (phi) on surface diffusion was studied in reversed-phase liquid chromatography using a C(18)-silica gel column and methanol-water mixtures. The temperature dependence of surface diffusion coefficient (D(s)) was explained by considering that of the molecular diffusivity, suggesting the presence of a kind of correlation between surface and molecular diffusions. The influence of phi on D(s) was accounted for by considering the restriction energy (E(r)) for surface diffusion. Physical meanings of the linear correlation between E(r) and the enthalpy change due to sample retention are discussed in connection with the mechanism of surface diffusion.     

The effect of chaotropic mobile phase additives on the separation of selected alkaloids in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The retention behavior of selected alkaloids from different classes was studied. The effect of chaotropic salts additives to the mobile phase on chromatographic parameters of protonated basic analytes was investigated on Zorbax Extend-C18 column. The influence of the type of salts and their concentration on retention, efficiency, peak symmetry and separation selectivity of investigated alkaloids was established. Buffered acetonitrile-water mobile phase was chosen because of significant retention of added liophilic ions due to strong dispersive pi-pi interactions. These conditions are responsible for great contribution of electrostatic forces in the retention of protonated bases. The addition of salt, such as hexafluorophosphate, perchlorate, trifluoroacetate leads to the increase in retention, efficiency and separation selectivity of examined analytes. The influence of added salts on increase in retention parameters could be expressed as follows: H2PO4- < CF3COO- < ClO4- < PF6-. This order is in agreement with ability of salts to "salting-in" effect according to Hofmeister series. Obtained chromatograms of alkaloids mixture illustrate suitability of chaotropic effect to improve their separation selectivity.     

Effect of stationary phase hydrophobicity and mobile phase composition on the separation of carboxylic acids in ion chromatography

In a previous work, we studied the retention behavior of monovalent and divalent carboxylic acids on a highly cross-linked polystryene-divinylbenzene anion-exchange column (IonPac AS4A-SC) using a carbonate-based buffer, and a retention model was applied to the chromatographic data obtained. In this work we characterized the retention of carboxylates (formic, acetic, propionic, lactic, pyruvic, oxalic, malonic, succinic, fumaric, maleic, tartaric, glutaric, adipic, malic, mucic, trans-beta-hydromuconic, trans,trans-muconic acids) on a column with higher hydrophilicity (IonPac AS11) according to analyte and stationary phase properties, using previously investigated eluent compositions and comparing the retention data obtained. Moreover, the effect of organic modifiers (CH3OH and CH3CN) in the eluent on the retention factors was also evaluated. The chromatographic data obtained on the IonPac AS11 column were fitted by the retention model and allowed one to obtain and to compare ion-specific selectivity constants (parameters of the model) with the ones obtained with the previous column.     

Effect of n-octanol in the mobile phase on lipophilicity determination by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a modified silica column

In this study, we show that the addition of n-octanol to the mobile phase improves the chromatographic determination of lipophilicity parameters of xenobiotics (neutral solutes, acidic, neutral and basic drugs) on a Phenomenex Gemini C18 column. The Gemini C18 column is a new generation hybrid silica-based column with an extended pH range capability. The wide pH range (2-12) afforded the examination of basic drugs and acidic drugs in their neutral form. Extrapolated retention factor values, [Formula: see text] , obtained on the above column with the n-octanol-modified mobile phase were very well correlated (1:1 correlation) with literature values of logP (logarithm of the partition coefficient in n-octanol/water) of neutral compounds and neutral drugs (69). In addition, we found good linear correlations between measured [Formula: see text] values and calculated values of the logarithm of the distribution coefficient at pH 7.0 (logD(7.0)) for ionized acidic and basic drugs (r(2)=0.95). The Gemini C18 phase was characterized using the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model of Abraham. The LSER system constants for the column were compared to the LSER constants of n-octanol/water extraction system using the Tanaka radar plots. The comparison shows that the two methods are nearly equivalent.     

Mobile phase effects in reversed-phase chromatography VI. Thermodynamic models for retention and its dependence on mobile phase composition and temperature

Summary The physico-chemical framework is examined by comparing the predictions of three models for the combined effects of the composition of the hydroorganic mobile phase and the column temperature on the retention ofn-alkylbenzenes on hydrocarbonaceous bonded stationary phases. The well-mixed model leads to expressions for the dependence of retention on three factors which are equivalent to those derived previously from linear extrathermodynamic relationships. The diachoric model stems from the assumption that the mobile phase is microscopically heterogeneous and the displacement model is identical to the retention model most widely used in chromatography with polar sorbents and less polar solvents. Over limited ranges of mobile phase composition and temperature, each model does describe retention behavior. However, only the wellmixed model describes retention well over the entire range of mobile phase composition and temperature studied here. The success of the well-mixed model, and its limits, give insight into the role of the organic solvent in determining the magnitude of chromatographic retention on non-polar stationary phases with hydro-organic eluents.Dedicated to Professor S. R. Lipsky on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Optimization of the mobile phase composition in gradient elution reversed-phase HPLC by stochastic prediction

Summary Quantitative analysis of more than ten compounds in a sample generally requires complex mobile phases to optimize the separation of the analytes by gradient elution reversed-phase HPLC. For this purpose, CHEOPS, a software package has been developed from the fully stochastic Computer Chromatogram Simulation Method. Calculation principles and optimization criteria are described. Experimental validation is presented with amino acids and steroids.     

Stereoselective determination of p-hydroxyphenyl-phenylhydantoin enantiomers in rat liver microsomal incubates by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using beta-cyclodextrin as chiral mobile phase additives

An analytical method was developed for determination of p-hydroxyphenylphenylhydantoin enantiomers in rat liver microsome by using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. A 50 mm C(8) column was used as the analytical column. The mobile phase was made up of 8.8 mmol/L beta-cyclodextrin, 0.25 mol/L urea and 0.05 mol/L ammonium acetate in water. The assay was linear from 2.05 to 410.0 micromol/L for each enantiomer. The limits of detection and of quantitation for the method were 0.90 and 2.05 micromol/L for each enantiomer, respectively. The analytical method afforded average recoveries of 93.59 +/- 2.75% and 94.72 +/- 1.78% for S- and R-p-hydroxyphenylphenylhydantoin, respectively. The method allowed study of the in vitro glucuronidation of p-hydroxyphenylphenylhydantoin in rat liver microsomal incubates. The stereoselectivity of p-hydroxyphenylphenylhydantoin phase II metabolism was observed.