Improved analysis by liquid chromatography of iso-alpha acids

This paper shows that the liquid chromatography (LC) methods so far described in the literature for iso-alpha acids analysis are unsatisfactory. The main reasons for this are the failure of the advocated eluent systems to completely suppress trace metal activity of commercial LC columns and the lack of a stable reference iso-alpha acid. The trace metal problem can be solved by using a column packing material specifically designed for “Hop Acid” analysis and by adding ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to the eluent. The reference problem is more difficult, but possibly a formulation of the iso-alpha acids in their acid form may be the answer. Chromatographic conditions changing the elution pattern of the individual iso-alpha acids are studied. This leads to better control of their co-elution in the analytical procedure.     

Use of potassium-form cation-exchange resin as a conductimetric enhancer in ion-exclusion chromatography of aliphatic carboxylic acids

In this study, a cation-exchange resin (CEX) of the K⁺-form, i.e., an enhancer resin, is used as a postcolumn conductimetric enhancer in the ion-exclusion chromatography of aliphatic carboxylic acids. The enhancer resin is filled in the switching valve of an ion chromatograph; this valve is usually used as a suppressor valve in ion-exchange chromatography. An aliphatic carboxylic acid (e.g., CH₃COOH) separated by a weakly acidic CEX column of the H⁺-form converts into that of the K⁺-form (e.g., CH₃COOK) by passing through the enhancer resin. In contrast, the background conductivity decreases because a strong acid (e.g., HNO₃) with a higher conductimetric response in an eluent converts into a salt (e.g., KNO₃) with a lower conductimetric response. Since the pH of the eluent containing the resin enhancer increases from 3.27 to 5.85, the enhancer accelerates the dissociations of analyte acids. Consequently, peak heights and peak areas of aliphatic carboxylic acids (e.g., acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid) with the enhancer resin are 6.3-8.0 times higher and 7.2-9.2 times larger, respectively, than those without the enhancer resin. Calibrations of peak areas for injected analytes are linear in the concentration range of 0.01-1.0 mM. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) range from 0.10 μM to 0.39 μM in this system, as opposed to those in the range of 0.24-7.1 μM in the separation column alone. The developed system is successfully applied to the determination of aliphatic carboxylic acids in a chicken droppings sample.     

Characterization of carboxylic acids in atmospheric aerosols using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HILIC/ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for determination of selected aliphatic (i.e. malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, pimelic, suberic, azelaic, maleic, fumaric, glycolic and pyruvic acid), alicyclic (i.e. cis-pinonic and pinic acid) and aromatic (i.e. trimesic, phthalic acid and its isomers) carboxylic acids. Analytes were separated on an amide column using a gradient elution with a 10mM constant ionic strength mobile phase containing acetonitrile and aqueous ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.0). The influence of the buffer type, pH, polar modifier and temperature on analyte retention under HILIC was studied. Static sonication-assisted solvent extraction was optimized for sample preparation prior to analysis. The recoveries obtained were higher than 90% for most analytes. The method was proven to be sensitive with limits of detection ranged from 0.03 to 16.0 μg/L in selected reaction monitoring mode (SRM). The repeatability and intermediate precision of the method, expressed as RSD (%) of the peak area ratio between analytes and their internal standards were generally lower than 5%. The method was successfully applied for determination of the studied acids in samples of ambient aerosol particles. A big advantage of the new method is also its ability to detect and separate the isobaric compounds of the selected carboxylic acids. Our results demonstrate that the method is specific and sensitive for the determination of a wider range of polar carboxylic acids at low concentrations in complex samples of aerosol particles.     

Pneumatic pulse dampener for liquid chromatography

A simple pulse dampener is described for use with reciprocating pumps. The dampener may be assembled locally form readily available components and consists mainly of a small reservoir of compressed helium which acts as a cushion to dampen the mobile phase pulsations pneumatically. Depulsing is 99% complete and is uniform through a wide pressure range. The pneumatic dampener allows the use of single- piston reciprocating pumps in conjunction with highly flow-sensitive detectors at their highest sensitivity settings.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters with particular reference to cyclopropenoic and cyclopropanoic acids

High performance liquid chromatography of saturated, monounsaturated, diunsaturated, triunsaturated, cyclopropenoic (malvalic and sterculic) and cyclopropanoic (cis-8,9-methylenehexadecanoic and dihydrosterculic) fatty acids was performed with their methyl esters. All separations were carried out with two types of reversed phase columns, the eluent consisting of an acetonitrile/water mixture. The effect of water was studied in the range 0–15%. The best separation was obtained with acetonitrile/water (85:15 v/v). Quantitative results indicated that the detection limits depended upon ultraviolet wavelength and in the present study were 4 ng of methyl sterculate and 125 ng of methyl dihydrosterculate at 195 nm.     

Analysis of carboxylic acids by gas chromatography. Derivatisation using chloroacetone

Summary The preparation of the acetonyl esters of nine aliphatic carboxylic acids is described, the general formula of the derivatives being RCOOCH₂COCH₃ where R=alkyl or H. The derivatives show good chromatographic properties on both packed and capillary columns. The electron impact and chemical ionisation mass spectra of the derivatives are discussed.     

The optimized separation of aromatic carboxylic acids by HPLC

The optimization of the separation of eight aromatic carboxylic acids, using Hypersil SAS and MOS reverse phase columns, with respect to eluent (methanol : water) composition, pH, and temperature, is described. Window diagram techniques are used and the pH of the aqueous buffer and elution temperature are shown to be more critical than eluent composition.     

On-line multidimensional chromatography using packed capillary liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography

The introduction of selected fractions from a liquid chromatograph into a gas chromatograph has been described; however, analyses were performed by off-line experiments requiring collection and reinjection of the separate fractions or by on-line procedures where disadvantageously, only a fraction of the separated peak or a well resolved component in a mixture could be introduced into a gas chromatograph. This disadvantage is overcome by the apparatus and method described in this paper, which utilizes a multidimensional chromatography system employing a high efficiency, packed capillary LC column coupled on-line to a capillary gas chromatograph. The liquid chromatograph (so designed) can act as a highly efficient clean-up or chemical class fractionation step prior to introduction into the gas chromatograph, significantly reducing sample preparation times in many applications. Thus minor components in a complex matrix can be determined without prior sample clean-up, an example of which is the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in a complex hydrocarbon matrix.     

Determination of UV-transparent compounds by liquid chromatography using the UV detector

An indirect UV photometric detection technique is described in which a low concentration of a UV-absorbing compound (UVAC) is added to the mobile phase in reversed phase liquid chromatography, thereby making it possible for non UV-absorbing compounds such as the lower alcohols to be detected by the UV detector. This happens because the injected analyte may extract a portion of the UV absorbing compound from the mobile and/or stationary phase and the complex is co-eluted as a positive peak at the retention time of the analyte. Alternatively, the injected analyte may appear as a negative peak if the UV-absorbing compound is transferred to the mobile and stationary phases. In any case, the injected compound appears either as a positive or negative peak depending on the relative polarities and concentrations of all the compounds in the system. In addition, the resulting excess or deficiency of detection agent in the stationary phase is eluted separately as a positive or negative peak, indicating that the system has returned to equilibrium. In the work described herein, the chromatographic conditions and variables of the indirect photometric technique were studied to develop a quantitative HPLC method for UV-transparent compounds. It was found that under optimal conditions it is possible to determine some analytes quantitatively at concentrations as low as 0.05%.     

Practical applications of open tubes in liquid chromatography

The practical applications of open tubes in liquid chromatography as separation columns and as reactors for post column derivatization are discussed. With present technology, the potential efficiency of open tubular columns cannot be fully exploited. As reactors in post column derivatization, these tubes offer many advantages if knitted or stitched to enhance radial mass transfer. The application of open tubes with diameters between 0.12 mm and 0.6 mm as reactors in the selective and sensitive detection of amino acids is demonstrated.     

Cation exchange/hydrophobic interaction monolithic chromatography of small molecules and proteins by nano liquid chromatography†

In this study, vinyl phenyl boronic acid modified lauryl methacrylate‐based monolithic column was successfully prepared for cation exchange/hydrophobic interaction monolithic chromatography of small molecules and proteins in nano LC. The polymeric mixture consisted of lauryl methacrylate, vinyl phenyl boronic acid as cation exchanger, ethylene dimethacrylate as cross‐linker, polyethylene glycol and methanol as binary porogenic solvent, and azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The resulting monolith showed good permeability and mechanical stability. Different ratios of monomer and porogens were used for optimizing the properties of the column. The monolithic column performance with respect to hydrophobic and cation exchange interactions was assessed by the separation a series of alkyl benzenes and anilines, respectively. cis‐Diol‐containing compounds such as phenols were also utilized to evaluate the retention behaviors of the vinyl phenyl boronic acid modified monolithic column. The monolithic column showed cation exchange interactions in the separation of aniline compounds. Theoretical plate number up to 52 000 plates/m was successfully achieved. The prepared monolith was further applied to the proteins with different acetonitrile content.     

Determination of ten organic acids by low pressure liquid chromatography

Summary Organic acids, such as lactic, malic and citric acids, are involved in primary metabolism of all living organisms. Their presence in food products contributes to the flavour and their equilibrium with inorganic cations defines to a large extent the acidity of the food preparations. A resin cation-exchanger device, normally used for separating amino-acids, can be adapted for characterizing 10 organic acids: formic, propionic, fumaric, succinic, lactic, malic tartaric, citric, and oxalic. Two monitoring systems were used, one of them based on specific iron III salt coloration with hydroxy-acids.     

Enhanced‐fluidity liquid chromatography using mixed‐mode hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography/strong cation‐exchange retention mechanisms

The potential of enhanced‐fluidity liquid chromatography, a subcritical chromatography technique, in mixed‐mode hydrophilic interaction/strong cation‐exchange separations is explored, using amino acids as analytes. The enhanced‐fluidity liquid mobile phases were prepared by adding liquefied CO₂ to methanol/water mixtures, which increases the diffusivity and decreases the viscosity of the mixture. The addition of CO₂ to methanol/water mixtures resulted in increased retention of the more polar amino acids. The “optimized” chromatographic performance (achieving baseline resolution of all amino acids in the shortest amount of time) of these methanol/water/CO₂ mixtures was compared to traditional acetonitrile/water and methanol/water liquid chromatography mobile phases. Methanol/water/CO₂ mixtures offered higher efficiencies and resolution of the ten amino acids relative to the methanol/water mobile phase, and decreased the required isocratic separation time by a factor of two relative to the acetonitrile/water mobile phase. Large differences in selectivity were also observed between the enhanced‐fluidity and traditional liquid mobile phases. A retention mechanism study was completed, that revealed the enhanced‐fluidity mobile phase separation was governed by a mixed‐mode retention mechanism of hydrophilic interaction/strong cation‐exchange. On the other hand, separations with acetonitrile/water and methanol/water mobile phases were strongly governed by only one retention mechanism, either hydrophilic interaction or strong cation exchange, respectively.     

Potentiometric detection of organic acids in liquid chromatography using conducting oligomer electrodes

A conducting oligomer electrode was used for the potentiometric detection of organic acids in reversed phase liquid chromatography (LC). The conducting material consisted of a mixture of a phenylene vinylene trimer with a polycarbonate host polymer and iodine. A glassy carbon electrode was coated with this material by evaporation from a chloroform solution. A theoretical model was given to describe the observed potentiometric responses. The analysis conditions were optimized to obtain both efficient separations, and sensitive potentiometric responses. Detection limits in the nanogram level were attained when a 1 mM phosphoric acid solution was used as the eluent, which were comparable to the values obtained with low-wavelength UV detection. Calibration curves showed a logarithmic dependence on an injected amount for amounts higher than 5 nmol, and a linear dependence for injected amounts below this value. The response times of the electrode were smaller than 1 s at typical LC flow-rates. The reproducibility for consecutive injections was 5%.     

Determination of carboxylic acids by ion-exclusion chromatography with non-suppressed conductivity and optical detectors

Summary Determination of carboxylic acids using non-suppressed conductivity and UV detections is described. The background conductance of 1-octanesulfonic acid, hexane sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid at varying concentrations was determined. Using 0.2 mM 1-octanesulfonic acid as a mobile phase and an injection volume of 300 l, the detection limits range from 1 M for formic acid to 10 M for butyric acid. The conductivity detector was connected in tandem with a Waters 484 optical detector at 210 nm, which allowed the analysis of carboxylic acids from 0.01 mM to 10 mM. The dependence of the retention of carboxylic acids on the eluent pH is discussed.     

Effects of solute-solvent and solvent-solvent association in liquid adsorption chromatography with binary mobile phase

Analytical equations for the capacity ratio in liquid adsorption chromatography with a binary mobile phase, involving solute-solvent and solvent-solvent association in the mobile and surface phases, have been derived. Very simple equations have been obtained for higher values of mole fraction of the more efficient eluting solvent.     

Enantiomeric separation of racemic sulphoxides on chiral stationary phases by gas and liquid chromatography

Summary The enantiomeric resolution of seven racemic sulphoxides on chiral stationary phases has been investigated by gas and liquid chromatography. In gas chromatography the separations were performed on octakis-(2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-butyryl)-γ-cyclodextrin (FS Lipodex-E) and heptakis-(2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-pentyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DMP-β-CD). Both stationary phases were suitable for separation of the enantiomers of the sulphoxides. With one exception for each series all racemetes could be resolved on both stationary phases; FS Lipodex-E was more enantioselective than DMP-β-CD, whereas the latter seemed more generally applicable. Liquid chromatographic separations with Chiralcel-OB as stationary phase were significantly improved by optimization of mobile phase composition and temperature. Resolution factors up to R_s=6 were achieved indicating that the improved separations could now be easily used for preparative purposes.