Kaolin as support for porous layer open tubular columns

Summary PLOT columns have been prepared with kaolin as the liquid phase support. These columns show good efficiency with different stationary phases and good thermal stability with polar phases. The performance of columns is shown by the separation of various mixtures such as fatty acids, phenols and anilines which are of analytical importance.     

Preparation and evaluation of 3 m open tubular capillary columns with a zwitterionic polymeric porous layer for liquid chromatography

A 3 m zwitterionic polymeric porous layer open tubular column (3 m × 25 μm id × 375 μm od) with a polymeric porous layer thickness of 4 μm was fabricated by the copolymerization of [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide and N,N’‐methylenebis(acrylamide). The effects of the diameter of the capillary, reaction temperature, and polymerization time on the preparation of the open tubular column were investigated. Characterized by scanning electron microscopy, the zwitterionic layer was observed to be rough and throughout the fused‐silica capillary homogenously, which increased the phase ratio. The separation of neutral, basic, and acidic compounds demonstrates the strong hydrophilicity of the poly[2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide coating. In addition, the poly[2‐(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide porous layer open tubular column was applied for the analysis of flavonoids from the rootstalk of licorice, revealing the potential in separating complex samples. The relative standard deviation of retention time for run‐to‐run (n = 5), day‐to‐day (n = 3), and column‐to‐column (n = 3) of toluene, N,N‐dimethylformamide, formamide, and thiourea were below 1.2%, exhibiting good repeatability.     

The application of porous silica layers in open tubular columns for liquid chromatography

Summary Two methods to realize a porous retentive silica layer on the inner wall of 10–25 μm fused silica capillaries for OTLC, etching and precipitation of silica from solution, have been investigated. Etching of the fused silica capillaries with 1M KOH, creates an activated surface, but the capacity of the silica layer is too small to serve as retentive layer in OTLC. Better prospects are offered by the precipitation of silica from a solution of polyethoxysiloxane, dynamically coated on the inner wall of the fused silica capillary. It appears to be possible to deposite a porous silica layer up to 0.8 μm thick (in a 25 μm capillary) by this method, which seems to be suitable for liquid-solid an dynamically generated liquid-liquid chromatography in open tubular columns. The performance of these columns are demonstrated by means of efficient separations of test mixtures using on-column fluorescence detection.     

Carbon layer open tubular capillary columns

Capillary columns coated with Carbopack materials, which provide separation by a mixed partition/adsorption mechanism or by adsorption alone, have recently been developed. The reproducibility of the columns is demonstrated and applications shown in which they provide separations which are either unique or are faster than can be achieved with the wall coated open tubular capillary columns currently available.     

PoraPLOT Q: A porous layer open tubular column coated with styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer

A porous polymer is deposited on the inner wall of fused silica capillary columns. The retention characteristics of this porous polymer were evaluated and found to be comparable with Porapak Q. The porous polymer has a high retention volume which enables the separation of permanent gases at ambient temperatures or higher. The hydrophobic character of the porous polymer allows the injection of water containing samples without changing retention due to adsorption of water. The inertness of the porous polymer allows the elution of a range of apolar and polar compounds. The maximum temperature of the porous polymer was estimated to be 250°C. With this new type of capillary column, high resolution separations are obtained in combination with short analysis times.     

The fabrication of poly (polyethylene glycol diacrylate) monolithic porous layer open tubular (mono‐PLOT) columns and applications in hydrophilic interaction chromatography and capillary gas chromatography for small molecules

The easy shrinkage and swelling of polymer monolithic column when exposed to mobile phase with different polarity is a problem that cannot be ignored. To overcome this drawback, a convenient aqueous two‐phase polymerization approach was used to prepare poly (polyethylene glycol diacrylate, PEGDA) monolithic porous layer open tubular (mono‐PLOT) columns (150 μm). The poly(PEGDA) mono‐PLOT column with homogeneous polymer porous layer was synthesized successfully. A maximum plate number of 41,500 plates per meter for allyl thiourea was obtained under a velocity of 1.8 mm/s. Several kinds of polar molecule were separated on the proposed mono‐PLOT column and a typical hydrophilic interaction retention mechanism was observed. High speed separation of benzoic acids was also carried out, baseline separation of five benzoic acids was successfully achieved within 5 min with a 70 cm mono‐PLOT column at 50°C. Furthermore, the resulting PLOT column was also successfully applied to separate standard analytes of three DNA oxidative damage products and RNA‐modified nucleosides and four chlorophenols. At last, the column could separate alcohols, alkanes, and aromatic isomers via GC. It had more than 20,000 plates per meter for butanol – higher than commercial coatings open tubular columns.     

Separation of polystyrenes by means of open tubular capillary chromatography

Simulating polymer separation in flow-through channels of monolithic columns, separation of a mixture of polystyrene standards was investigated using open tubular capillary column of 2 μm inner diameter. High column efficiency was observed for polymers of molar mass ranged from few tens to few hundred kDas. Column efficiency significantly decreased for polymers with molar mass larger than 500 kDa nevertheless preserving value of few tens of thousands theoretical plates. Calibration curve observed for open capillary column is rather steep and can be well described by simple equation without quadratic term. In spite of low selectivity, capillary columns were able in separating wide range of polystyrene standards due to column high efficiency and in such a way supported an idea of hydrodynamic mechanism of polymer separation in flow-through channel of monolithic packings.     

Fast separations with open tubular ion exchange capillary columns

Fused silica columns of 4.6 μm i.d. were coated with 3-sulfopropylsilane as a cation exchanger and 3-(2-aminoethyl-amino)-propylsilane as an anion exchanger. Fast separations of cations (< 25 seconds) and of anions (< 35 seconds) were obtained, using a potentiometric microelectrode as a detector. In proceeding towards smaller i.d.s, a mixture of alkali metal cations could be separated successfully in an uncoated fused silica capillary of 2.3 μm i.d. as a result of retention by the surface silanol groups at pH 9.4.     

Factors affecting reproducibility in the manufacture of glass and siliceous glass open tubular (capillary) columns

Summary Column characteristics affecting the chromatographic behavior of glass and siliceous glass (fused silica) capillary columns include the dimensional uniformity of the column, the physical and chemical characteristics of the column wall and the characteristics of the liquid phase. In the case of the coated column the uniformity and thickness of the liquid phase film are the most important criteria affecting column reproducibility. The paper discusses these factors and their influence on column performance.Presented in part at the Symposium on Standardized Materials for Chromatography, 181 st National American Chemical Society Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, March 29–April 3, 1981.     

Wall modified photonic crystal fibre capillaries as porous layer open tubular columns for in-capillary micro-extraction and capillary chromatography

Wall modified photonic crystal fibre capillary columns for in-capillary micro-extraction and liquid chromatographic separations is presented. Columns contained 126 internal parallel 4 μm channels, each containing a wall bonded porous monolithic type polystyrene-divinylbenzene layer in open tubular column format (PLOT). Modification longitudinal homogeneity was monitored using scanning contactless conductivity detection and scanning electron microscopy. The multichannel open tubular capillary column showed channel diameter and polymer layer consistency of 4.2 ± 0.1 μm and 0.26 ± 0.02 μm respectively, and modification of 100% of the parallel channels with the monolithic polymer. The modified multi-channel capillaries were applied to the in-capillary micro-extraction of water samples. 500 μL of water samples containing single μg L⁻¹ levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons were extracted at a flow rate of 10 μL min⁻¹, and eluted in 50 μL of acetonitrile for analysis using HPLC with fluorescence detection. HPLC LODs were 0.08, 0.02 and 0.05 μg L⁻¹ for acenaphthene, anthracene and pyrene, respectively, with extraction recoveries of between 77 and 103%. The modified capillaries were also investigated briefly for direct application to liquid chromatographic separations, with the retention and elution of a standard protein (cytochrome c) under isocratic conditions demonstrated, proving chromatographic potential of the new column format, with run-to-run retention time reproducibility of below 1%.     

Effect of capillary cross-section geometry and size on the separation of proteins in gradient mode using monolithic poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) columns

Porous polymer monoliths have been prepared in capillaries with circular or square cross-sections and lateral dimensions of 50, 75, 100 μm as well as in a rectangular 38 μm × 95 μm capillary. These capillaries have been used to determine the effect of the size and shape of their cross-section on the porous and hydrodynamic properties of poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monoliths. The capillaries were studied by scanning electron microscopy and evaluated for their permeability to flow and their performance in the liquid chromatographic separation of a protein mixture comprising ribonuclease A, cytochrome c, myoglobin, and ovalbumin using a linear gradient of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. No differences resulting from channel geometry were found for the various capillary columns. These results demonstrate that standard capillaries with circular geometry are a good and affordable alternative conduit for modeling the processes carried out in microfluidic chips with a variety of geometries.     

Polydopamine‐coated open tubular column for the separation of proteins by capillary electrochromatography

The separation and determination of proteins in food is an important aspect in food industry. Inspired by the self‐polymerization of dopamine under alkaline conditions and the natural adhesive properties of polydopamine, in this paper, a simple and economical method was developed for the preparation of polydopamine‐coated open tubular column, in which ammonium persulfate was used as the source of oxygen to induce and facilitate the polymerization of dopamine to form polydopamine. In comparison with a naked fused‐silica capillary, the direction and magnitude of the electro‐osmotic flow of the as‐prepared polydopamine‐coated open tubular column could be manipulated by varying the pH values of background solutions due to the existence of amine and phenolic hydroxyl groups on polydopamine coating. The surface morphology of the polydopamine‐coated open tubular column was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the thickness of polydopamine coating was 106 nm. The performance of the polydopamine‐coated open tubular column was validated by analysis of proteins. The relative standard deviations of migration times of proteins representing run‐to‐run, day‐to‐day, and column‐to‐column were less than 3.5%. In addition, the feasibility of the polydopamine‐coated open tubular column for real samples was verified by the separation of proteins in chicken egg white and pure milk.     

Hydrophilic interaction 10 microm I.D. porous layer open tubular columns for ultratrace glycan analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

The sensitivity of glycan analysis using nano-liquid chromatography interfaced with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) increases with the decrease of the mobile phase flow rate, accompanied by reduced ion suppression. In this study, we describe the preparation and performance of high efficiency 10 microm I.D. amine-bonded poly(vinylbenzyl chloride-divinylbenzene) hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns operated at 20 nL/min for the separation and analysis of glycan mixtures. HILIC-PLOT columns with a uniform porous polymer layer were reproducibly prepared ( approximately 4% RSD in retention time from column-to-column) via in situ polymerization, followed by one step modification with ethylenediamine. When coupled on-line with negative ESI-MS, low detection limits (0.3fmol) for a 3-sialyl-tetrasaccharide were achieved using a 2.5mx10 microm I.D. HILIC-PLOT column. A dextran ladder standard was used to evaluate the performance of the column, and high efficiency separation was achieved with detection of the dextrans up to G22 from approximately 50 fmol amounts injected. As an example of the high sensitivity of the column, MS(6) characterization of glycan structures was possible from the injection of 10 fmol of a neutral and sialylated glycan. As another example of high sensitivity LC-MS analysis of 3 ng of a PNGase F digest of ovalbumin allowed 28 N-linked glycans to be confidently identified from a single analysis. High quality MS/MS spectra for each ovalbumin glycan were acquired and manually interpreted for structure analysis. The HILIC-PLOT column is a very promising approach for LC-MS analysis of glycans at the ultratrace level.     

In-situ chemical investigation of a comet nucleus by gas chromatography: Porous layer open tubular columns for the separation of light, volatile compounds

Summary In the framework of the cometary sampling and composition (COSAC) experiment of the European Space Agency (ESA) Rosetta space mission to a comet, a new generation of porous polymer porous-layer open tubular (PLOT) columns has been investigated with the aim of separating the light organic compounds targeted by the experiment within the constraints of the operating conditions used in space. Both styrene-divinylbenzene and ethylene glycol-dimethyl acrylate-divinylbenzene porous polymers can be used to separate most of the target compounds, but the latter was selected because of its better separating properties. The most appropriate column characteristics were found to be 10 m length, 0.18 mm internal diameter, and 1–2 μm layer thickness, despite the low sample-loading capacity of such a column, which impairs its chromatographic performance. The influence of column overloading on retention properties and efficiency was, therefore, studied. To achieve the separation with optimum sensitivity, and within the in-situ time allowed for the analysis, it was also demonstrated that the maximum allowed temperature and reduced outlet pressure are required. Finally, it was shown that in the presence of water, the most abundant volatile compound in comets the separating properties of the studied columns are conserved. This paper thus demonstrates the suitability of the porous polymer PLOT column selected for the COSAC experiment and requirements for use in space; it is the first porous polymer PLOT column to be used in space exploration. Presented at: 23^rd International Symposium on Chromatography, London, UK, October 1–5, 2000     

The efficiency of open tubular gas chromatographic columns

Summary A new parameter, the mean specific plate number, is proposed for assessing the efficiency of support coated open tubular (SCOT) and wall coated open tubular (WCOT) columns and for comparing the efficiency of different open tubular columns. It has the advantage over most previously used parameters in that it has only a small dependence on the partition ratio and it allows for the column diameter.A graphical presentation is given of the maximum theoretical mean specific plate number as a function of the partition ratio for SCOT columns having a range of relative porous layer thicknesses and for WCOT columns with a range of phase ratios.This presentation permits ready visual comparison of the potential efficiency of different columns and enables a simple evaluation of the percentage utilization of theoretical efficiency from experimentally determined values of the maximum mean specific plate number. For a given column the percentage utilization of theoretical efficiency at optimum average gas velocity and that at optimum practical gas velocity or at a higher average gas velocity are shown to be equal provided that corrections for column pressure drop are made.     

基于窄内径多孔层毛细管开管柱的纳流高效液相色谱用于N-衍生化氨基酸对映体的分离

窄内径多孔层毛细管开管柱(NPLOT柱)在生命科学领域,特别是单细胞分析领域具有较好的应用前景。本研究采用原位热引发聚合法来制备窄内径奎尼丁类手性固定相多孔层开管柱,在6μm i.d.的毛细管中制备有机聚合物多孔层,考察了不同热聚合时间(3、6和9h)对NPLOT柱形貌的影响,热聚3h和6h制备的NPLOT柱形貌均一,多孔层厚度分别为103±51nm和210±51nm。将热聚合3h制备的NPLOT柱用于纳流高效液相色谱分离N-衍生化氨基酸对映体,在2min内即可实现基本分离,消耗的样品量仅为皮升级别。该研究将为单细胞分析提供研究手段。     

Graphite layer open tubular (GLOT) columns in gas chromatography and environmental analysis

Summary The preparation of graphite layer open tubular (GLOT) columns is described together with their application to the analysis of priority pollutants and polar compounds such as alcohols, free carboxylic acids, aliphatic amines and phenols at the sub-nanogram level.A specific application of GLOT columns is for the direct analysis of aqueous solutions avoiding solvent extraction procedures. Several chromatograms of critical separations are reported together with calibration curves. A study of the reproducibility of column preparation is reported in terms of the standard deviation of the capacity ratio and of the minimum HETP obtained.     

Carboxymethylchitosan covalently modified capillary column for open tubular capillary electrochromatography of basic proteins and opium alkaloids

A novel open tubular (OT) column covalently modified with hydrophilic polysaccharide, carboxymethylchitosan (CMC) as stationary phase has been developed, and employed for the separations of basic proteins and opium alkaloids by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). With the procedures including the silanization of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTS) and the combination of glutaraldehyde with amino-silylated silica surface and CMC, CMC was covalently bonded on the capillary inner wall and exhibited a remarkable tolerance and chemical stability against 0.1 mol/L HCl, 0.1 mol/L NaOH or some organic solvents. By varying the pH values of running buffer, a cathodic or anodic EOF could be gained in CMC modified column. With anodic EOF mode (pH<4.3), favorable separations of basic proteins (trypsin, ribonuclease A, lysozyme and cytochrome C) were successfully achieved with high column efficiencies ranging from 97,000 to 182,000 plates/m, and the undesired adsorptions of basic proteins on the inter-wall of capillary could be avoided. Good repeatability was gained with RSD of the migration time less than 1.3% for run-to-run (n=5) and less than 3.2% for day-to-day (n=3), RSD of peak area was less than 5.6% for run-to-run (n=5) and less than 8.8% for day-to-day (n=3). With cathodic EOF mode (pH>4.3), four opium alkaloids were also baseline separated in phosphate buffer (50 mmol/L, pH 6.0) with column efficiencies ranging from 92,000 to 132,000 plates/m. CMC-bonded OT capillary column might be used as an alternative medium for the further analysis of basic proteins and alkaline analytes.