Retention characteristics of a new butylimidazolium-based stationary phase. Part II: anion exchange and partitioning

A surface-confined ionic liquid (SCIL) and a commercial quaternary amine silica-based stationary phase were characterized employing the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) method in binary methanol/water mobile phases. The retention properties of the stationary phases were evaluated in terms of intermolecular interactions between 28 test solutes and the stationary phases. The comparison reveals a difference in the hydrophobic and hydrogen bond acceptance interaction properties between the two phases. The anion exchange retention mechanism of the SCIL phase was demonstrated using nucleotides. The utility of the SCIL phase in predicting logk _IL/water values by chromatographic methods is also discussed.     

Retention mechanism of a cholesterol-coated C18 stationary phase: van't Hoff and Linear Solvation Energy Relationships (LSER) approaches

This study examines the effect of temperature on the dynamic cholesterol coating of a C18 stationary phase and the effect of this coating on the retention mechanism. In general, an increase in temperature results in a decrease in the mass of cholesterol coated on the stationary phase. Typically, an increase in temperature from 25°C to 55°C results in a nearly 60% reduction in the mass of cholesterol loaded. The inclusion of temperature, along with loading solvent composition and cholesterol concentration in the loading solvent, allows for loading a targeted amount of cholesterol on the stationary phase over an order-of-magnitude range. In addition to loading studies, the retention mechanism of small non-ionizable solutes was examined on cholesterol-coated stationary phases. A van't Hoff analysis was performed to assess retention thermodynamics, while a LSER approach was used to examine retention mechanism. With 50/50 water/organic mobile phases, the addition of cholesterol results in an increase in the entropic contribution to retention, with a decrease in the enthalpic contribution. The opposite trend is seen with 40/60 water/organic mobile phases. LSER system constants are also affected by a cholesterol coating on the stationary phase, with some changing to favor elution and others changing to favor retention.     

A simple model describing the retention behavior of octreotide and its glycosylated derivatives in reversed phase HPLC

Summary The retention behavior of octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, and its glycosylated derivatives containing different numbers of glucose units has been studied by reversed phase HPLC. A retention model was developed by correlating the logarithm of the retention factor with the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of the analyte. Linear functions could be derived for all the separation systems investigated. The slopes of the straight lines were a measure of the selectivity of the chromatographic system and enabled calculation of increments for the saccharide groups in different eluent systems. The highest increment was found using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as ion pairing agent. The model was extended to substitution of the same peptide with hydrophobic groups such as acetyl and alkyl. Straight lines were again obtained. The influence of the different eluent systems upon peak shape and retention is also discussed. Owing to the strong peak tailing a dual retention mechanism consisting of hydrophobic and silanophilic interactions was assumed. It was shown that addition of quaternary ammonium compounds to mask the surface silanols of the stationary phase reduced both the peak tailing and the retention of the peptides.     

New uniform algorithm to predict reversed phase retention values under different gradient conditions

A new numerical emulation algorithm was established to calculate retention parameters in RP-HPLC with several retention times under different linear or nonlinear binary gradient elution conditions and further predict the retention time under any other binary gradient conditions. A program was written according to this algorithm and nine solutes were used to test the program. The prediction results were excellent. The maximum relative error of predicted retention time was less than 0.45%.     

Retention process in reversed phase TLC systems with polar bonded stationary phases

The retention of a solute in RP chromatography is a very complex process which depends on many factors. Therefore, the study of the influence of a mobile phase modifier concentration on the retention in different reversed phase chromatographic systems is very important for understanding the rules governing retention and mechanisms of substance separation in a chromatographic process. Composition changes and the nature of mobile phases enable tuning of the separated analytes' retention over a wide range of retention parameters and optimization of the chromatographic process as well. Optimization of the chromatographic process can be achieved by several different methods; one of them is the so-called interpretative strategy. The key approach adopted in this strategy is the implementation of adequate retention models that couple the retention of solute with the composition of a mixed mobile phase. The use of chemically bonded stationary phases composed of partially non-bonded silica matrix and organic ligands bonded to its surface in everyday chromatography practice leads to questions of the correct definition of the retention model and the dominant retention mechanism in such chromatographic systems. The retention model for an accurate prediction of retention factor as a function of modifier concentration and the heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface should be taken into consideration. In this work the influence of mobile-phase composition on the retention of sixteen model substances such as phenols, quinolines, and anilines used as test analytes in different RP-TLC systems with CN-, NH2-, and Diol-silica polar bonded stationary phases has been studied. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of three valuable retention models assumed as the partition, adsorption/partition, and adsorption mechanism of retention. All the models were verified for different RP-TLC systems by three statistical criteria. The results of investigations presented in this work demonstrate that the best agreement between the experimental and calculated Rf values was obtained by the use of new-generation retention models, which assume heterogeneity of adsorbent surface. The results reported here show that heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface may be important in analysis of the elution process in liquid chromatography. Consideration of the goodness of fit for the experimental data to the examined retention models is in conformity with the adsorption mechanism of retention on all polar bonded stationary phases in most eluent systems for most investigated compounds.     

A new imidazolium-embedded C18 stationary phase with enhanced performance in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

In this paper, a new imidazolium-embedded C₁₈ stationary phase (SiImC₁₈) for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described. 1-Allyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid compound having a long alkyl chain and reactive groups was newly prepared and grafted onto 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane-modified silica via a surface-initiated radical-chain transfer addition reaction. The SiImC₁₈ obtained was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform, and solid-state ¹³C and ²⁹Si cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The selectivity toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons relative to that toward alkylbenzenes exhibited by SiImC₁₈ was higher than the corresponding selectivity exhibited by a conventional octadecyl silica (ODS) column, which could be explained by electrostatic π–π interaction cationic imidazolium and electron-rich aromatic rings. On the other hand, SiImC₁₈ also showed high selectivity for polar compounds, which was based on the multiple interaction and retention mechanisms of this phase with different analytes. 1,6-Dinitropyrene and 1,8-dinitropyrene, which form a positional isomer pair of dipolar compounds, were separated successfully with the SiImC₁₈ phase. Seven nucleosides and bases (i.e. cytidine, uracil, uridine, thymine, guanosine, xanthosine, and adenosine) were separated using only water as the mobile phase within 8 min, which is difficult to achieve when using conventional hydrophobic columns such as ODS. The combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions is important for the effective separation of such basic compounds without the use of any organic additive as the eluent in the octadecylimidazolium column.     

Retention characteristics of organic compounds on molten salt and ionic liquid-based gas chromatography stationary phases

The interest of using ionic liquids (ILs) as stationary phases in gas chromatography (GC) has increased in recent years. This is largely due to the fact that new classes of ILs are being developed that are capable of satisfying many of the requirements of GC stationary phases. This review highlights the major requirements of GC stationary phases and describes how molten salts/ILs can be designed to largely meet these needs. The retention characteristics of organic solutes will be discussed for ammonium, pyridinium, and phosphonium-based molten salts followed by imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrollidinium, and phosphonium-based IL stationary phases. The versatility of ILs allows for the development of stationary phases based on dicationic ILs, polymeric ILs, and IL mixtures. To aid in choosing the appropriate IL stationary phase for a particular separation, the reader is guided through the different types of stationary phases available to identify those capable of providing the desired separation selectivity of organic solutes while allowing for flexibility in ranges of temperature used throughout the separation.     

Mobile phase effects on retention on a new butylimidazolium-based high-performance liquid chromatographic stationary phase

A new HPLC stationary phase based on n-butylimidazolium bromide has been characterized by a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) approach in the binary acetonitrile/water mobile phases. The retention properties of the stationary phase were systematically evaluated in terms of intermolecular interactions between 28 test solutes and the stationary phase. The results and further comparisons with conventional reversed phase system confirm that retention properties are similar to phenyl phases in acetonitrile/water mixtures. The results obtained with acetonitrile/water mixtures are also compared with results obtained using methanol/water mixtures.     

Effect of stationary phase polarity on the retention of ionic liquid cations in reversed phase liquid chromatography

Chromatographic analysis of ionic liquids on different types of packings offers interesting possibility to determine their retention mechanism. As a consequence, the major interactions between stationary phase ligands and analyzed chemical entities can be defined. The main aim of this work was to analyze cations of ionic liquids on chemically bonded stationary phases with specific structural properties. The attempt to predict the main interactions between positive ions of ionic liquids and stationary phase ligands was undertaken. For that purpose, butyl, octyl, octadecyl, phenyl, aryl, mixed, alkylamide, and cholesterolic packings were chosen and applied to the analysis of six most commonly used ionic liquids' cations. Obtained results indicate mainly dispersive and pi-pi type of interaction part in the retention mechanism of analyzed compounds.     

Regioselective separation of isomeric triacylglycerols by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography: stationary phase and mobile phase effects

Complete regioselective separation of five pairs of isomeric dipalmitoyl polyalkenoyl glycerols with two to six double bonds in the unsaturated acyl residues has been achieved by RP-HPLC on a single ODS column. Four ODS columns with stationary phases containing different percentages of free silanol groups have been tested. Binary mobile phases of ACN admixed with dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethanol, or acetone have been examined. The choice of modifier depended on the nature of the stationary phase. The more polar solvents were better suited for stationary phases with higher percentage of free silanol groups. Isomeric species were eluted according to chain length, number of double bonds, and the position of the unsaturated acyl chain in the glycerol molecule. Retention increases in the order 20:5 < 22:6 < 18:3 < 20:4 < 18:2. Within each isomeric pair, the species with unsaturated acyl chain occupying either the sn-1- or the 3-position were retained preferentially. Complete simultaneous regioselective separation of 10 isomeric triacylglycerols in a single isocratic run on a single ODS column was demonstrated.     

Enantiomeric separation of chiral pesticides by high performance liquid chromatography on cellulose tris-3,5-dimethyl carbamate stationary phase under reversed phase conditions

Twenty chiral pesticides were tested, of which seven samples were directly separated by HPLC using cellulose tris-3,5-dimethyl carbamate (CDMPC) chiral stationary phase under RP conditions. The influence of mobile phase composition and column temperatures from 0 degrees C to 40 degrees C on the separations were investigated. The mobile phases were methanol/water or ACN/water at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min with UV detection at 230 or 210 nm. Epoxiconazole, terallethrin, benalaxyl, and diclofopmethyl were observed to obtain the baseline separation under suitable conditions and other pesticides pyriproxyfen, lactofen, and quizalofop-ethyl were separated partially. The retention factors (k) and selectivity factor (alpha) for the enantiomers of most investigated pesticides decreased upon increasing the temperature except for the selectivity factors (alpha) of pyriproxyfen in methanol/water. The ln alpha - 1/T plots for racemic chiral pesticides were linear at the range of 0-40 except for that of pyriproxyfen enantiomers in methanol/water and the chiral separations were controlled by enthalpy. Better separations were not always at low temperature. The elution orders of the eluting enantiomers were determined by a circular dichroism (CD) detector.     

Negentropy and retention in reversed phase liquid chromatography

Summary In the proposed concept an eluate is considered to be an information source and the chromatographic column as a non specific receptor capable of understanding the information content. Molecular negentropy, estimated using Shannon's equation has been used as a measure of the information content. Retention of some experimental solutes has been shown to vary with the respective negentropy.     

Retention behavior of resorcinarene‐based cavitands on C8 and C18 stationary phases

The understanding of the retention behavior of large molecules is an area of interest in liquid chromatography. Resorcinarene‐based cavitands are cavity‐shaped cyclic oligomers that can create host–guest interactions. We have investigated the chromatographic behavior of two types of cyclic tetramers as analytes in high‐performance liquid chromatography. The experiments were performed at four different temperatures (15, 25, 35, 45°C) on two types of reversed stationary phases (C₈ and C₁₈) from two different manufacturers. We have found a huge difference between the retention of resorcinarenes and cavitands. In some cases, the retention factor of cavitands was even a hundred times larger than the retention factor of resorcinarenes. The retention of methylated derivates was two to four times larger compared to that of demethylated compounds on every column. The opposite retention behavior of the resorcinarenes and cavitands on the two types of stationary phases showed well the difference of the selectivity of the XTerra and BDS Hypersil columns. The retention mechanism was studied by the thermodynamic parameters calculated from the van't Hoff equation.     

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.     

Novel ultra stable silica-based stationary phases for reversed phase liquid chromatography--study of a hydrophobically assisted weak acid cation exchange phase

A mixed-mode reversed-phase/weak cation exchange (RP/WCX) phase has been developed by introducing a small amount of carboxylate functionality into a hydrophobic hyper-crosslinked (HC) platform. This silica-based HC platform was designed to form an extensive polystyrene network completely confined to the particle's surface. The fully connected polymer network prevents the loss of bonded phase, which leads to superior hydrolytic stability of the new phase when compared to conventional silica-based phases. Compared to previously introduced HC phases the added carboxylic groups impart a new weak cation exchange selectivity to the base hydrophobic HC platform. The phase thus prepared shows a mixed-mode retention mechanism, allowing for both neutral organic compounds and bases of a wide polarity range to be simultaneously separated on the same phase under the same conditions. In addition, the new phase offers the flexibility that gradients in organic modifier, pH or ionic competitors can be used to affect the separation of a wide range of solutes. Moreover, the inherent weak acid cation exchange groups allow formic and acetic acid buffers to be used as eluents thereby avoiding the mass spectrometric ionization suppression problems concomitant to the use of non-volatile additives such as strong amine modifiers (e.g. triethylamine) or salts (e.g. NaCl) to elute basic solutes from the strong cation exchange phase which was previously developed in this lab. The use of the new phase for achieving strong retention of rather hydrophilic neurotransmitters and drugs of abuse without the need for ion pairing agents is demonstrated.     

Solute retention in the stationary phase of a liquid-solid chromatographic system

Summary Utilizing the UNIFAC group model of activity coefficients the retention behaviour of a solute in the stationary phase of a liquid-solid chromatographic system is studied. By comparison of experimentally observed capacity ratios and calculated activity coefficients of solutes in the mobile phase, varying the concentration of a polar moderator, it is shown that the calculated activity coefficients in the stationary phase fit very well the equation formally identical with the Langmuir function. Comparison of activity coefficients in the mobile and the stationary phase proves equivalence between the solvent interaction and the competition theory.     

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.