High efficiency HPLC with long packed columns

Coupling several 25 cm × 2 mm ID analytical columns together is a simple and easy way to achieve high resolution HPLC (20,000–50,000 plates). How to do this with commercially available instruments, injectors and detectors is described in the paper. An attractive feature of the long narrow column approach is that the same HPLC set-up can be used for both fast-low and slow-high efficiency separations. High efficiency is essential for really complex natural mixtures, e.g. the hop and beer bitter acids. Some examples are shown.     

A comparative study of large volume injection techniques for microbore columns in HPLC

Summary This paper focuses attention on the potentially larger signal-to-noise ratios produced by microbore columns in comparison with conventional columns. The increased chromatographic signals by the application of microbore columns are due to the lower chromatographic dilution of elution profiles which are proportional to the square of the column inner radius. Generally less than 1μl sample should be injected into microbore systems to obtain the full benefit of the column performance. However, since more sample can be loaded on conventional columns compared to microbore columns the advantage of improved signal-to-noise ratio can only be realised in situations where very little sample is available. To inject more than 1μl sample, at the same time avoiding extra band-broadening effects, suitable injection techniques must be available. In this study three injection methods for microbore systems that meet this condition, are studied and compared.     

Liquid chromatography of isomers of aromatic acids on microbore column packed with anion-exchange resin

Summary A low-capacity, anion-exchange, porous-polymer resin was used as the packing material in a microbore column. Using a phosphate buffer containing various organic modifiers, retention behavior of substituted benzoic acid isomers with amino, chloro, methyl, nitro and carboxylic groups was investigated. The effect of ethanol, acetonitrile and sodium dodecylsulfate used as organic modifiers on the retention behavior at various eluent pH values was studies and optimum separations of the positional isomers reported.     

Analysis of lemon and bergamot essential oils by HPLC with microbore columns

Summary Some citrus essential oils were analyzed by HPLC with both microbore and standard columns in reversed and normal phase. Volatile and non-volatile fraction were investigated. In the non-volatile fraction some coumarins have been identified. Fractions are detected spectrophotometrically at 220 nm and 320 nm before and after evaporation of samples. Some components were also identified by LC/MS.     

GC with LC-like packed capillary columns

Capillary columns of 0.3–0.35 mm internal diameter and 0.3–7.7 m length, packed with 3 to 30 μm octadecylsilica stationary phases as used for liquid chromatography, were applied to gas chromatographic separation of low boiling hydrocarbons. Van Deemter plots for these columns showed the optimum column efficiency to occur at linear velocities of 4–5 cm/s. A short column was applied to the rapid separation of components of a natural gas and impurities in standard gases, while a long column was applied to the separation of complex mixtures.     

Modifier effects on packed and capillary columns in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary The separation of polar thermally labile solutes is one of the potentially most rewarding fields of SFC application. A presupposition for such applications is, however, mobile phases having relatively high solvent strengths. A promising approach to achieve this is the use of mobile phases consisting of carbon dioxide with a polar additive. In this work, the chromatographic effects of different concentrations of an additive, isopropanol, in carbon dioxide have been studied on capillary and packed columns. A series of antibiotics was used as test substances. Best results were obtained with carbon dioxide/8% isopropanol as mobile phase on a capillary column coated with a cyanopropyl-substituted polysiloxane stationary phase.     

Density gradients in packed columns: II. Effects of density gradients on efficiency in supercritical fluid separations

To investigate how fluid compressibility affects efficiency in supercritical fluid separations, band dispersion along a packed capillary column was measured from on-column elution rate profiles obtained under solvating gas chromatography (SGC) conditions; this allowed efficiency to be determined with respect to position along the column. Theoretical efficiency was also modeled. The model indicates that the primary cause of band broadening in SGC is high mobile phase velocity near the column outlet. However, the experimental results show that significant band broadening also occurs near the column inlet in a region that corresponds to high elution rates of the analyte. On-column detection also revealed spatial focusing of the analyte as it moves down the column density gradient.     

Packing and performance of microbore columns for adsorption and partition chromatography

Summary Microbore columns of 1 mm i.d. have turned out to be very suitable for the achievement of efficient columns.The packing procedure for stainless steel 1 mm i.d. columns from 5 to 100 cm in length was studied. Stationary phases used were: pure silica gel, octyl, octadecyl and amino bonded silicas. The main parameters (slurry composition, packing system, choice of materials) are discussed.Short columns packed with 3 or 5m particles allow high speed separations. A separation in 18 seconds is described.Very high plate numbers can be obtained with long columns. With 7–8m particles, a 1 m column can produce 50,000 plates (h=3). Columns can be joined without loss of efficiency. 270 000 theoretical plates were obtained on a 6 m adsorption column with a test mixture. In reversed-phase chromatography, bile acid sodium salts can be separated on a 1 m column. In adsorption chromatography, details are given of the separation of a polystyrene oligomer sample, as well as a light and a heavy petroleum distillate samples on a 2 m column with refractive index detection in the last-case.     

Characterization of the efficiency of microbore liquid chromatography columns by van Deemter and kinetic plot analysis

The efficiency of miniaturized liquid chromatography columns with inner diameters between 200 and 300 μm has been investigated using a dedicated micro‐liquid chromatography system. Fully porous, core–shell and monolithic commercially available stationary phases were compared applying van Deemter and kinetic plot analysis. The sub‐2 μm fully porous as well as the 2.7 μm core–shell particle packed columns showed superior efficiency and similar values for the minimum reduced plate heights (2.56–2.69) before correction for extra‐column contribution compared to normal‐bore columns. Moreover, the influence of extra‐column contribution was investigated to demonstrate the difference between apparent and intrinsic efficiency by replacing the column by a zero dead volume union to determine the band spreading caused by the system. It was demonstrated that 72% of the intrinsic efficiency could be reached. The results of the kinetic plot analysis indicate the superior performance of the sub‐2 μm fully porous particle packed column for ultra‐fast liquid chromatography.     

Supercritical-fluid chromatography: Open columns vs packed columns

Supercritical-fluid chromatography (SFC) may be performed either in open (capillary) columns or in packed columns. Both approaches have been demonstrated numerous times in the literature. In this contribution it will be attempted to discuss some aspects of columns for SFC. Some advantages of both types of columns will be identified. Attention is paid to the stationary phase film thickness, the speed of analysis, and to the maximum number of theoretical plates (effect of column pressure drop). In this brief contribution many questions will be left unanswered and many significant aspects will be left undiscussed, illustrating that much research remains to be done in this area.     

A comparative study of microbore reverse-phase columns

A procedure for packing reverse-phase microbore columns using moderate pressure is described. Columns packed from different manufacturer's tubing are compared with commercially available columns. A method for coupling the column to the injection valve is suggested. The effect of detector cell volume on overall efficiency of the system is also examined.     

On the stability of micro-LC columns (packed fused silica capillary columns)

The life expectancy and resistance to flow, pressure shocks, solvent gradients, and bending of packed fused silica capillary columns (Micro-LC) are discussed.     

Preparation and performances of small bore columns packed with reversed-phase materials and their use for the evaluation of air pollutants

Summary The preparation of small bore columns (1 mm i.d.) packed with reversed-phase materials is described. High efficiency (H_min=2 dp), coupled with a small C term (0.005 sec) have been obtained so that high speed can be combined with sufficient resolution for the separation of complex organic mixtures. These columns have been used for the separation of air pollutants dispersed in different matrices (air, particulate matter and rain water). Practical applications include the determination of aldehydes in air and emission samples, PAHs, nitrated and oxygenated PAHs in dust sampled from the stack of an industrial emission or collected in a urban area and the analysis of organic components dissolved in rain water collected at a rural site. Specific detection of these pollutants has been achieved by connecting small bore columns to UV absorbance, voltammetric and fluorimetric detectors. Mass spectra of some specific components have been recorded using the off-line technique.This work has been performed as a part of a Research Doctorate thesis to be discussed at the University of Rome.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. A. Liberti on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Applications of packed and capillary supercritical fluid chromatography in the separation of tocochromanols

Tocochromanols consisting of tocopherols and tocotrienols, is collectively known as vitamin E. Similarity in their structures, physical and chemical properties rendered the tocochromanols to be subject of chromatography interest. Supercritical fluid chromatography is a highly efficient tool for the separation and analysis of tocochromanols. Separation and analysis of tocochromanols using supercritical fluid chromatography had been carried out in the past using capillary or packed columns. Each of these techniques offer their own advantages and drawbacks. Besides being used for analysis, packed column supercritical fluid chromatography found applications as a purification and content enrichment tool. Emergence of new equipment and stationary phase technologies in recent years also helped in making supercritical fluid chromatography a highly efficient tool for the separation and analysis of tocochromanols. This paper gives an insight into the use of capillary and packed columns in supercritical fluid chromatography for the separation and/or analysis of tocochromanols. The types of stationary phase used, as well as chromatographic conditions are also discussed.     

Comparison of thick film capillaries with packed columns from the point of view of loadability in combination with high resolving power

The present paper compares the potential of high pressure packed column gas chromatography, with a particle size in the range of 30–80 μm and conventional packed column GC. with that of thick film capillaries for obtaining the maximum loadability at a given performance in efficiency and speed of separation. An alternative treatment, discussing the maximum efficiency of the three column types at normalized loadability and speed of separation is given. Known and established relationships describing plate height, loadability, and linear velocity are used to arrive at the said comparisons. The conclusion of the paper indicates a reconsideration of packed column GC for particular types of analyses where large amounts or high concentrations are required in the detection step.