Evaluation of the potential of nonlinear gradients for separating a ternary mixture

The potential of applying nonlinear gradients in preparative chromatography is evaluated theoretically and experimentally. The second eluting component of a ternary model mixture is considered as the target component. Systematic gradient resolution experiments were conducted for this mixture using reversed phase chromatography. In preliminary experimental investigations the effect of the mobile phase composition on the specific distribution equilibria was quantified. Concave and convex solvent strength gradients were analysed and compared with conventional linear gradients. Main result of the study is the fact that significant improvement in productivity can be achieved if the gradient shapes are designed carefully.     

Novel criteria for fast searching for optimal method in gradient ion chromatography: an integrated approach

In this article, an integrated approach for prediction and optimization in ion chromatography (IC) was presented. The approach provides a fast and reliable insight in the elution behavior of an IC system. The predictions are based on a mathematical model that predicts ion retentions (for both isocratic and gradient modes) by using an empirical isocratic model. Other chromatographic values significant for the optimal elution conditions (resolution, peak asymmetry) are calculated quickly and easily from the predicted retention values of characteristic points of a chromatographic peak. Every day, IC users might find this approach a suitable tool for finding optimal IC elution conditions in a given system.     

Preparative separation of bioactive constitutes from Zanthoxylum planispinum using linear gradient counter‐current chromatography

Counter‐current chromatography is a chromatographic technique with a support‐free liquid stationary phase. In the present study, a successful application of linear gradient counter‐current chromatographic method for preparative isolation of bioactive components from the crude ethanol extract of Zanthoxylum planispinum was presented. The application of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water quaternary solvents, in terms of “HEMWat” or “Arizona” solvent families, in gradient elution mode was evaluated. Results indicated that slightly proportional changes of biphasic liquid systems provided the possibility of gradient elution in counter‐current chromatography, maintaining stationary phase retention in the column. With the selected quaternary solvent systems composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (2:1:2:1 and 3:2:3:2, v/v), and optimized gradient programs, in total seven fractions were separated in 4.5 h. Most of the purified compounds could be obtained at the milligram level with over 80% purity. The present study indicated that the linear gradient counter‐current chromatographic approach possessed unique advantages in terms of separation efficiency, exhibiting great potential for the comprehensive separation of complex natural extracts.     

Evaluation of separation in gradient elution ion chromatography by combining several retention models and objective functions

In this work, three different methods for modeling of gradient retention were combined with several optimization objective functions in order to find the most appropriate combination to be applied in ion chromatography method development. The system studied was a set of seven inorganic anions (fluoride, chloride, nitrite, sulfate, bromide, nitrate, and phosphate) with a KOH eluent. The retention modeling methods tested were multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN), radial-basis function artificial neural network (RBF-ANN), and retention model based on transfer of data from isocratic to gradient elution mode. It was shown that MLP retention model in combination with the objective function based on normalized retention difference product was the most adequate tool for optimization purposes.     

Improvement of separation in zonal preparative thin-layer chromatography by gradient elution

Summary Complex extracts of the plants Azulan and Hemorigen were separated by zonal micropreparative thin-layer chromatography in sandwich chambers of the ES and DS type which permitted zonal application of large volumes of sample, without auxiliary equipment. Application from the edge of the layer, in the frontal chromatography mode, markedly improved the separation efficiency and capacity owing to displacement effects which narrow the initially broad zones. Further improvement of separation efficiency and purity of fractions, revealed by densitometry, was observed using stepwise gradient elution. This was confirmed by extraction of some of the separated fractions from the layer and rechromatography; the composition of these fractions were generally simpler than for the corresponding isocratic chromatograms.     

A practical approach to the preparative purification of peptides using analytical instrumentation with analytical and semipreparative columns

Summary We have examined the effect of particle size of silica-based reversed-phase packings and column packing techniques on the reversed-phase analytical separation of a peptide mixture. A C₁₈ packing of 15–20 μm average particle size produced satisfactory peptide resolution, allowing a relatively inexpensive scale up to the preparative purification of peptides. A shallow gradient (0.1% acetonitrile/min) elution procedure was developed for the preparative purification of closely related decapeptides (differing by one methyl group) on analytical (250×4.1 mm I.D.) and semipreparative (250×10 mm I.D.) columns. Up to 30 mg and 225 mg of the two-peptide mixture was efficiently resolved, with high yields of homogeneous peptides, on analytical and semipreparative columns, respectively, containing the 15–20 μm packing. We have also demonstrated the potential of our purification procedure for resolving more complex multicomponent mixtures by efficiently separating a total of 22 mg of three closely-related peptides on analytical columns containing 7 μm or 15–20 μm particle size reversed-phase packings. The use of the inexpensive 15–20 μm packing, coupled with the ability to pack efficient columns with analytical HPLC instrumentation, offers great cost saving potential.     

Modeling of salt and pH gradient elution in ion‐exchange chromatography

The separation of proteins by internally and externally generated pH gradients in chromatofocusing on ion‐exchange columns is a well‐established analytical method with a large number of applications. In this work, a stoichiometric displacement model was used to describe the retention behavior of lysozyme on SP Sepharose FF and a monoclonal antibody on Fractogel SO₃ (S) in linear salt and pH gradient elution. The pH dependence of the binding charge B in the linear gradient elution model is introduced using a protein net charge model, while the pH dependence of the equilibrium constant is based on a thermodynamic approach. The model parameter and pH dependences are calculated from linear salt gradient elutions at different pH values as well as from linear pH gradient elutions at different fixed salt concentrations. The application of the model for the well‐characterized protein lysozyme resulted in almost identical model parameters based on either linear salt or pH gradient elution data. For the antibody, only the approach based on linear pH gradients is feasible because of the limited pH range useful for salt gradient elution. The application of the model for the separation of an acid variant of the antibody from the major monomeric form is discussed.     

Theoretical background of short chromatographic layers. Optimization of gradient elution in short columns

Although linear salt gradient elution ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) of proteins is commonly carried out with relatively short columns, it is still not clear how the column length affects the separation performance and the economics of the process. The separation performance can be adjusted by changing a combination of the column length, the gradient slope and the flow velocity. The same resolution can be obtained with a given column length with different combinations of the gradient slope and the flow velocity. This results in different separation time and elution volume at the same resolution. Based on our previous model, a method for determining the separation time and the elution volume relationship for the same resolution (iso-resolution curve) was developed. The effect of the column length and the mass transfer rate on the iso-resolution curve was examined. A long column and/or high mass transfer rate results in lesser elution volume. The resolution data with porous bead packed columns and monolithic columns were in good agreement with the calculated iso-resolution curves. Although the elution volume can be reduced with increasing column length, the pressure drop limits govern the optimum conditions.     

梯度淋洗离子对色谱法测定咪唑离子液体中的阳离子

采用梯度淋洗离子对色谱-紫外检测(IPC-UV)法分离测定5种咪唑离子液体中的阳离子。实验采用ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C18色谱柱,以离子对试剂与乙腈为流动相,首先考察了离子对试剂种类和浓度、乙腈浓度和色谱柱温度对咪唑阳离子保留的影响,然后确定了最适宜分离的色谱条件。在此条件下可同时基线分离5种咪唑阳离子。所测阳离子的检出限(S/N=3)为0.05～0.30 mg/L,峰面积的相对标准偏差(RSD, n=5)在0.1%以下。将此方法用于分析实验室合成的2种1-烷基-3-甲基咪唑离子液体中的阳离子,加标回收率在98.6%～102.1%之间。本方法准确、可靠,具有较好的实用性。     

HPLC Analysis of complex mixtures of triglycerides using gradient elutions and an ultraviolet detector

Summary A method of reserved-phase HPLC analysis for mixtures of triglycerides (TG's) that provides good resolution at acceptable analysis times for high-ECN TG's has been developed. An elution gradient of methyltert-butyl-ether (MTBE) in acetonitrile (ACN) was used with an ultraviolet detector operated at 215nm. The effect of the proportion of MTBE in the mobile phase, gradient time, temperature and sample solvent on TG retention and resolution was studied. Linear relationships were derived between the logarithm of the capacity factor (log k'), and the logarithm of selectivity (log α) and the above-mentioned chromatographic factors. The conditions selected were: an elution gradient of from 23 to 30% MTBE, an elution gradient time of 25 minutes, and a temperature of 30°C, which provided good resolution of soybean oil TG's in less than 30 minutes.     

梯度液相色谱中任意等度、线性和阶梯梯度组合下的保留时间公式

基于线性溶剂强度模型,应用特征线分析的方法求解梯度洗脱模式下的理想液相色谱模型。在考虑到梯度延迟时间会对溶质的保留时间造成影响的情况下,得到适合于梯度液相色谱中任意等度、线性和阶梯梯度组合条件下的保留时间推导公式。应用这些公式计算任意的梯度条件下的保留时间,并将得到的结果与数值计f算的结果进行比较,二者完全一致,从而验证了推导得到的保留时间公式的正确性。由于这些公式具有形式简单、适用范围广等优点,因此可方便地应用于实际应用中,具有较高的实用价值。     

液相色谱梯度洗脱中的谱带压缩效应

谱带压缩效应是梯度洗脱区别于等度洗脱的重要特征。经典的范德姆特(van Deemter)理论塔板高度方程基于等度洗脱推导得到,因此不能对谱带压缩效应进行描述。在梯度洗脱中,保留因子(k)会随流动相组成(φ)的改变而发生变化,这就使得对梯度洗脱机理的研究要比等度洗脱复杂许多。该文对近10年来谱带压缩效应的研究进展,特别是溶剂强度模型(即描述ln k与φ关系的数学表达式)的非线性特征对谱带压缩因子(G)的影响进行了述评,指出为了更好地认识谱带压缩效应需要将这种非线性因素考虑在内。     

循环制备液相色谱分离芳香新塔花中的化学成分

建立了交替循环和直接循环液相色谱相结合的方法用于制备芳香新塔花中的化学成分.芳香新塔花样品经溶剂提取、柱色谱和中压制备色谱初步分离后得到芳香新塔花的不同馏分.以甲醇-水为流动相,利用双柱交替循环法对组分进行分离,同时,流动相经恒流泵循环输入色谱柱.以馏分Ⅰ和馏分Ⅱ为例,在混合循环模式下分离得到5个化合物.通过核磁共振对其进行鉴定,确定分别为乔松素-7-O-芸香糖苷、白杨素-7-O-芸香糖苷、金合欢素-7-O-芸香糖苷、云杉素和原儿茶酸.实验结果表明,该制备方法分离效率高,节省流动相,是分离天然产物的有效手段.     

Simple automated generation of gradient elution conditions in sequential injection chromatography using monolithic column

The paper deals with the concept of simple automated creation of gradient profile of the mobile phase for gradient-elution sequential injection chromatography (GE-SIC). The feasibility and merits of this concept are demonstrated on the separation and simultaneous assay of indomethacin as active principle and of its two degradation products (5-methoxy-2-methylindoleacetic acid and 4-chloro-benzoic acid) in a topical pharmaceutical formulation.The GE-SIC separation was performed with a FIAlab^® 3000 SIC set-up (USA) equipped with an Onyx™ Monolithic C18 (25 mm × 4.6 mm, Phenomenex^®) column, a six-port selection valve, a 5-mL syringe pump and a fiber-optics UV CCD detector. Ketoprofen was used as an internal standard (IS). The gradient elution was achieved by automated reproducible mixing of acetonitrile and aqueous 0.2% phosphoric acid in the holding coil of the SIC system. Different profiles of the gradient elution were tested. The optimal gradient using two mobile phases 30:70 and 50:50 of acetonitrile/0.2% phosphoric acid (v/v) was achieved under the optimum flow rate 1.2 mL min⁻¹. The chromatographic resolution R between the peaks of all solutes (including the IS) was >2.00. The repeatability of retention times was characterized by the RSD values 0.18-0.30% (n = 6). Net separation time was 3.5 min and the mobile phase consumption was 4.5 mL for a single GE-SIC assay. The figures of merit of the novel GE-SIC method compared well with those of conventional HPLC.     

Computerized optimization of gradient elution conditions with ternary solvent mobile phases in RPLC

Summary In this work, an optimization procedure for gradient RPLC separation, using ternary mobile phases, is described. This procedure requires eight preliminary experiments in gradient elution mode to predict the retention surface for each solute over the whole triangular space. This is followed by computerized calculations to determine the best ternary gradient elution profile with respect to both selectivity and analysis time. The efficiency of this procedure from the point of view of rapidity and of accuracy, is illustrated for the specific separation of twelve phenyl urea herbicides.     

Optimization of the separation of chlorophenols with stepwise gradient elution in reversed phase liquid chromatography

An optimization technique based on gradient elution was used to separate eleven chlorophenols by reversed phase liquid chromatography. The separation was based on gradient elution with a stepwise variation pattern of the volume fraction of organic modifier, phi, in the mobile phase. Initially, two-, three-, and four-parameter equations which describe the dependence of ln k' upon phi, were examined for their ability to fit the experimental data. It was found that, among these equations, the four-parameter equation gave the best fit of the experimental data. In addition to separation optimization, a non-linear least squares program with a grid search for initial estimates was used to determine the best variation pattern. The best variation pattern was obtained with phi(1)= 0.27, phi(2)= 0.39, phi(3)= 0.62, t(1) = 33 min, and t(2) = 11 min. This pattern allowed the chromatographic separation of the chlorophenols with a good resolution and a total analysis time of 51 min. Good agreement was observed between predicted and experimental values of the retention times under optimal condition.     

Separation of five compounds from leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees by off‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography combined with gradient and recycling elution

An off‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography method combined with gradient and recycling elution mode was established to isolate terpenoids and flavones from the leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees. By using the solvent systems composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water with different volume ratios, five compounds including roseooside, 5,4′‐dihydroxyflavonoid‐7‐O‐β‐d ‐pyranglucuronatebutylester, 7,8‐dimethoxy‐2′‐hydroxy‐5‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyloxyflavon, 14‐deoxyandrographiside, and andrographolide were successfully isolated. Purities of these isolated compounds were all over 95% as determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified by UV, mass spectrometry, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that the combination of off‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography with different elution modes is an efficient technique to isolate compounds from complex natural product extracts.     

Development of a general separation strategy by countercurrent chromatography using sanshools from Zanthoxylum bungeanum oleoresin as a case study

Three kinds of sanshools were separated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum oleoresin by high-speed countercurrent chromatography. Sanshools are a series of amide compounds extracted from the Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Due to similar structures, polarities, and dissociation constants, it was challenging to select an appropriate solvent system for their complete separation by countercurrent chromatography. To address this challenge, a solvent-system-selection strategy was proposed to identify a relatively suitable solvent system. Additionally, a separation procedure incorporating multi-elution modes selection was established to separate similar compounds in a logical order. Ultimately, a solvent system comprising n-hexane:ethyl acetate:methanol:water in a ratio of 19:1:1:5.67 was selected. Three amide compounds with high purity were obtained through the use of recycling elution mode to improve separation resolution: hydroxy-ε-sanshool (8.4 mg; purity: 90.64%), hydroxy-α-sanshool (326.4 mg; purity: 98.96%), and hydroxy-β-sanshool (71.8 mg; purity: 98.26%) were obtained from 600 mg sanshool crude extract. The summarized solvent-system-selection strategy and separation procedure incorporating multi-elution modes may instruct countercurrent chromatography users, particularly novices, seeking to separate compounds with highly similar chemical properties.     

梯度淋洗-电导抑制离子色谱法同时测定果汁中26种有机酸和阴离子

通过对色谱柱类型、流速、柱温、pH值、淋洗液浓度等影响因素的研究,建立了多级梯度淋洗-电导抑制离子色谱同时测定果汁中26种有机酸和阴离子的分析方法。结果表明,当流速为1.00 mL/min、柱温为30℃、pH值为5.5~6.8时,26种组分的测定结果更准确。26种组分在0.02~10.0 mg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系（r均大于0.995）,检出限（S/N=3）为0.17~52.0 μg/L;在0.20~2.00 mg/L添加水平下的回收率为85.58%~108.86%,相对标准偏差为0.15%~7.65%（n=6）。该方法简便快速、灵敏度好、准确度高,适于果汁中26种组分的痕量分析。     

反相高效液相色谱双梯度洗脱分离肽混合物及质谱分析

复杂肽段混合物的有效分离是高覆盖率地鉴定蛋白质混合物的前提。“鸟枪法”(Shotgun)蛋白质组学研究策略通常采用蛋白酶切、二维液相色谱-串联质谱分析肽段混合物从而鉴定蛋白质,其中高效率地分离肽段混合物是关键步骤之一。本文通过pH梯度结合有机溶剂梯度的反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)进行一维液相色谱分离,按等时间间隔收集馏分并将一个梯度的前段的一个馏分与后段一个馏分混合,然后进行纳升级液相色谱-质谱联用(nanoRPLC-MS/MS)分析。将该方法应用于酵母蛋白质的分离和鉴定,实验结果为: 与常规的强阳离子色谱-反相液相色谱-质谱分离鉴定方法相比,采用pH梯度结合有机相梯度的RP-HPLC-RPLC-MS分离鉴定方法多鉴定到567个酵母蛋白质(簇,含有3035个唯一肽段);其中鉴定到肽段的pI分布范围为3.42～12.01,相对分子质量范围为587.67～3499.79;蛋白质的pI分布范围为3.82～12.19,相对分子质量范围为3446.55～432905。该结果表明这种方法在复杂体系蛋白质组分离鉴定中具有明显的优势,在蛋白质组学研究中有较好的应用前景。