Retention behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in microcolumn liquid chromatography with acridine derivative as stationary phase

Retention behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on an acridine derivative stationary phase was examined in microcolumn liquid chromatography. 3,6-Bis(dimethylamino)-10-dodecylacridinium was electrostatically introduced into a cation-exchanger, and its selectivity was compared with that of octadecylsilyl-bonded silica gel. The former stationary phase provided smaller retention for non-planar PAHs than that achieved by the latter stationary phase. The results suggest that interaction between PAHs and the acridinyl ring dominates the retention of PAHs, and preferential retention of planar PAHs is attributed to the fact that they have more chance to interact with the acridinyl ring of the stationary phase than non-planar PAHs.     

Separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a C60 bonded silica phase in microcolumn liquid chromatography

A chemically bonded C₆₀ silica phase was synthesized as a stationary phase for liquid chromatography (LC) and its retention behavior evaluated for various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using microcolumn LC. The results indicate that the C₆₀ bonded phase offers selectivity different from that of octadecylsilica (ODS) bonded phases in the separation of isomeric PAHs. With the C₆₀ phase, PAH molecules having a partial structure similar to that of the C₆₀ molecule, e.g. triphenylene and perylene, were retained longer than with ordinary ODS stationary phases. The results also show that good correlation exists between the retention data with this C₆₀ bonded phase and with C₆₀ itself as the stationary phase.     

Microcolumn liquid chromatography of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some isomeric compounds on cyclodextrin stationary phases

Preparative-grade bonded β- and γ-cyclodextrin stationary phases were used as the packing material of liquid chromato-graphic analytical microcolumns. Although the resulting columns are characterized by relatively low efficiency, the high selectivity of the cyclodextrin phases nevertheless allows their successful use for the separation of different classes of isomeric compounds that are difficult to resolve on conventional LC stationary phases. Examples of baseline (or almost baseline) separations of a number of isomeric compounds, including isomeric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are presented to demonstrate the analytical potential of such columns. Retention behavior of the separated isomers is discussed based on the structure of the solute molecule and the possibility of its inclusion into the molecular cavity of cyclodextrin stationary phases.     

Retention behavior of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on cholesteryl 10-undecenoate bonded phase in microcolumn liquid chromatography

Summary The retention behavior of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in reversed-phase microcolumn liquid chromatography has been found to depend primarily on the inherent planarity of the molecules, the degree of orderliness of the bonded phase, and the concentration of solvent. The planarity recognition capability of cholesteryl 10-undecenoate bonded phase for large PAH is comparable with that of monomeric ODS phases. During solvation, however, the phase characteristics seemed to suggest a fairly rigid structure (an ordered phase), i.e. increased selectivity for non-planar molecules which approaches that of polymeric ODS rather than that of other phases with similarly bulky groups, e.g. naphthylethyl and pyrenylethyl bonded phases.     

Computer interactive identification system for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase microcolumn liquid chromatography

Summary A computer interactive identification system is proposed which is based on the relationship between retention and molecular properties such as the size and shape of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This system offers an automatic analytical process for liquid chromatography, providing a reliable identification of the separated components. The identification can be further enhanced by the use of multiple detectors such as a multichannel UV detector. The system can be used for optimization procedures, resulting in a highly automatic complex analytical system.     

Chitosan-based stationary phases in microcolumn liquid chromatography

Two kinds of cross-linked chitosan beads were evaluated as the stationary phase for microcolumn liquid chromatography. The phase with aminoalkyl substituent can be expected to function similarly to commonly known aminopropyl bonded phases. Separation of PAH with the chitosan phase bearing phenyl group substituents has been accomplished in the gradientelution mode with acetonitrile-water as the mobile phase. Planarity recognition capability comparable with that of monomeric octadecylsilica phase was observed.     

Retention characteristics of alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in normal phase liquid chromatography

Summary Retention characteristics of series of polymethyl and mono-n-alkyl derivatives of benzene and pyrene, and also of parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), were studied using silica and aminopropyl- and cyanopropyl-modified silica. Differences in the selectivities for the studied compound groups were found between the three phases. Deviations from linear behaviour in plots of log (k′)vs. carbon number were observed for the methyl series. These are explained in terms of differences in π-electron delocalisation within the aromatic ring systems. Further, the effect of methyl substitution on selectivity decreased with an increasing number of aromatic rings. Results were obtained which indicated that the primary adsorption site in a cyano column used in normal phase mode, at least for PAH molecules, is the cyano group.     

Retention prediction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed phase liquid chromatography with various mobile phase compositions and column temperatures

Summary The relationship between the logarithmic capacity factor measured in reversed-phase liquid chromatography and the operating conditions including the mobile phase composition and the column temperature is investigated. The strategy described herein can offer the possibility to predict the retention of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons without any experiments and standard materials, by utilizing equations describing the relationships between retention, temperature, mobile phase composition and physicochemical properties of the solutes previously stored in the program of the microcomputer-assisted retention prediction system.This concept is one of the most promising techniques for the optimization of the separation conditions in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.     

Micellar liquid chromatography of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Alkylpyridinium chloride as mobile phase modifier and selective fluorescence quencher

The dual role of alkylpyridinium chlorides, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and dodecylpyridinium chloride (DDPC), as micellar mobile phase modifiers and selective fluorescence quenching agents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in micellar liquid chromatographic separation of PAHs is reported. The replacement of 0.037 M cetyltrimethylammonium chloride in the aqueous mobile phase with CPC/DDPC quencher greatly simplifies the observed fluorescence‐detected chromatograms, facilitating PAH identification. The resulting chromatograms are similar to those obtained from the conventional approach – pyridinium chloride quencher in an acetonitrile mobile phase. To quantify the quenching, the (F₀ /F – 1) values from the Stern‐Volmer equation are calculated from the chromatograms and compared. The feasibility of using CPC or DDPC as a dual reagent under isocratic and gradient conditions is shown.     

Quantification of several monohydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection has been developed to determine the urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene and 3-hydroxybenz[a]pyrene. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to clean up the samples, and washing with 30% methanol was found to be the best way to remove interferences in the matrix. The method detection limits ranged from 0.044 μg/L for 1-hydroxypyrene to 1.615 μg/L for 3-hydroxybenz[a]pyrene, and the recoveries ranged between 40% for 3-hydroxybenz[a]pyrene and 99% for 2-hydroxynaphthalene. The within-day relative standard deviation was lowest for 2-hydroxynaphthalene at 0.67% and went up to 2.42% for 3-hydroxybenz[a]pyrene, and the between-day relative standard deviation ranged from 3.84% for 9-hydroxyphenanthrene to 10.42% for 2-hydroxyfluorene. The correlation coefficients were between 0.9962 and 0.9998. The developed method was successfully used to analyze samples from student volunteers in a high school.     

On-line solid-phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water using polytetrafluoroethylene capillary

Naphthalene, biphenyl, acenaphtene, anthracene and pyrene were extracted from water samples using inner walls of polytetrafluoroethylene capillary. Optimum conditions for sorption, desorption and heart-cutting of the analyte zone were found. Combined on-line solid-phase extraction and HPLC method for determination of these compounds was proposed. Limits of detection were: (μg L⁻¹): 0.4 (naphthalene), 0.3 (biphenyl), 0.6 (acenaphtene), 0.2 (anthracene) and 0.1 (pyrene).     

Application of a polysiloxane-based extraction method combined with column liquid chromatography to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental samples

Silicone rods with a diameter of 1 mm and 10 mm long were used to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples and for the rapid screening of highly contaminated waste material. The rods were placed in a 15 ml glass vial for the extraction of the analytes, which involved shaking (300 min⁻¹) the sample for 3 h. After extraction the rods were placed into 250 μl inserts of 2 ml vials filled with 100 μl of an acetonitrile-water mixture (4:1) and desorption was performed with sonication for 10 min. Then the PAHs were determined using LC and fluorescence detection. Recoveries of the rod extraction ranged between 62 and 97% and the detection limits were between 0.1 and 1.2 ng l⁻¹. These results are comparable with those of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). Although the rods are reusable, their low price means they can be discarded if contaminated, eliminating the need for expensive cleaning. One disadvantage compared to SBSE is the longer extraction time needed to reach equilibrium.     

Retention prediction of large and condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase microcolumn liquid chromatography with diphenylsilica stationary phase

The retention behavior of condensed large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been investigated with diphenylsilica stationary phases in reversed-phase microcolumn liquid chromatography. The results were correlated with two parameters which indicate size and shape of the molecules. Since the resulting equation can be used for retention prediction of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, computer-assisted “standardless” identification is accomplished for “unknown” compounds contained in the standard.     

Axial temperature gradient and mobile phase gradient in microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography

The effect of axial temperature gradient (ATG) along a microcolumn on the separation performance at both isocratic and gradient elution mode was investigated. A thermostat system was designed to form an ATG along the packed column. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were separated on a 0.53 mm  × 150 mm i.d. 5 μm C₁₈ microcolumn, with water and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The separation results obtained at mobile phase gradient (MPG) and ATG in microcolumn HPLC were compared with the results performed at ambient conditions. Extrapolated curves of peak width at half height (wh)versus lnk showed that wh is narrower at the same retention time when ATG was applied in addition to MPG. The column efficiency was enhanced 20-30% and the resolution was slightly reduced because of reduction of selectivity at elevated temperature at ATG condition. The RSD of retention time in ATG mode was less than 2.5%.     

Glass capillary column with nematogenic liquid crystals as stationary phases for separating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Summary Use of the homologues and analogues of nematogenic liquid crystals of the type N,N-bis(p-methoxylbenzylidene)-,-bi-p-toluidine (BMBT) as stationary phases in glass capillary columns is described. These stationary phases are very useful for resolving closely related, rigid solute isomers of three-, four- and five-ring PAH. With these columns it is possible to achieve faster and more complete separation of PAH compared with packed columns with a liquid crystalline stationary phase.     

Optimization of micellar liquid chromatographic separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the addition of second organic additive

The micellar liquid chromatographic (MLC) separations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were optimized for three micellar systems, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), with 1-pentanol as the only organic additive. A difference in the separation was observed between CTAC and SDS/DTAC. Under each optimized separation conditions, CTAC-modified mobile phase provides the least desirable separation, which is attributed to its longer carbon tail (C16 vs. C12). In addition to 1-pentanol, the main organic additive, a second organic additive (3% 1-propanol) in the micelle-modified mobile phase was found to enhance the resolution of PAH chromatographic peaks. However, the extent of the enhancement varies for the different micellar systems, with the greatest resolution improvement seen for CTAC, and little effect for shorter-tail SDS and DTAC. This study shows the potential use of second organic additive (1-propanol), to the main nonpolar additive (1-pentanol), in facilitating the MLC separation of larger nonpolar compounds.