Optimisation of mobile phase pH in liquid chromatography. Application to fluorimetric detection of series of quinolones

Summary The dissociation constants of several quinolones in a 7% acetonitrile-water mixture are determined. A model describing the effect of pH on the retention of quinolones by an octadecylsilica stationary phase with a 7% acetonitrile-water mobile phase is proposed. The model uses pH values in the mobile phase instead of pH values in water and takes into account the effect of activity coefficients. Fluorescence of quinolones in the mobile phase is studied, and a chromatographic separation with fluorimetric detection is established. Detection limits for the proposed method range from 3 to 12 μg·L⁻¹.     

Optimization by isochronal analysis I. Changes in mobile phase composition and velocity

Summary The theory of isochronal analysis (time normalization) has been extended to reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Of the possible manipulation of experimental parameters, the present paper develops a framework for optimizing the resolution by the simultaneous change of mobile phase velocity and composition. For that purpose the resolution equation was written in terms of these two parameters and under the constraint of constant analysis time. This treatment allows plotting the resolution versus the mobile phase composition and velocity. The surfaces thus obtained show the changes that the analyst must perform in order to optimize the resolution. The treatment deals with three possible α dependencies on the amount of organic modifier: constant, increasing and decreasing. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Simple and rugged SPE method for the determination of tetracycline antibiotics in serum by HPLC using a volatile mobile phase

Summary A simple and rugged SPE method for the determination of tetracycline (TC), minocycline (MC) and demeclocycline (DCC) in porcine serum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The spiked serum sample was pretreated with 2% phosphoric acid followed by a simple and rugged solid-phase extraction procedure using the Oasis^TM HLB extraction cartridges. High and reproducible recoveries were obtained even though the cartridges were run dry. The extracted sample analytes were injected onto a Waters SymmetryShield^TM RP₈ column. The mobile phase was a simple volatile solution containing 0.1% TFA, 2% methanol and 7% acetonitrile in Water. The antibiotics were detected at 350 nm. The calibration curves were linear from 2.0 to 25.0 μg mL⁻¹ of TC and MC with DCC as the internal standard at a concentration of 25.0 μg mL⁻¹. For six replicate analyses, the average recoveries of TC and MC from porcine serum sample fortified at the level of 2.5 μg mL⁻¹ were 96.1% with 1.3% RSD and 101% with 0.54% RSD; at level of 0.5 μg mL⁻¹ the average recoveries were 88% with 1.6% RSD and 97.8% with 1.4% RSD.     

Comparision of varuious bulk fluids and modifiers as near-crtical mobile phases on a polymeric column using linear solvatio energy realationships

Linear solvation energy realationships (LSERS) were used to qunatitatively compare the relative contributions of dipolarity/polarizability, hydrogen bonding, and other types of intermolecular interactions to retention and selectivity using various bulk moblie phase component. Using experimental condition which differ only by the compostion of the bulk moble phase component, the factors which cause selctivity to differ between HPLC, subcritical fluid chromatography and supercritical fluid charomatography were decovoluted. Heptance-based HPLC mobile phases showed superior selectivities towards analytes which differ in hydrogen bond donating ability, gas-to-hexadecane partion coefficint and dipolarity/ploarizability. subcritical fluid chromatography with HFC-134a (1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane) as the bulk fluid produced superior seclectivities for which differ in hydrogen bond accepting ability and execess molar refraction properties. Many of these factors showed temperature dependences which act to attenuate or accenture the particular intermolcular interaction.     

Optimization of the mobile phase conditions for the purification ofTaql endonuclease

Summary Taql endonuclease was purified by high performance ion exchange liquid chromatography with linear gradient elution. Of the chromatographic media tested as mobile phases for the HPLC purification ofTaql endonuclease, sodium acetate (pH 5.0) and phosphate (pH 7.0) buffers were appropriate for use with cation exchange columns, and L-histidine (pH 6.0) and Tris (pH 8.0) buffers with anion exchange columns.     

Predicting retention in reverse‐phase liquid chromatography at different mobile phase compositions and temperatures by using the solvation parameter model

The prediction capability of the solvation parameter model in reverse‐phase liquid chromatography at different methanol‐water mobile phase compositions and temperatures was investigated. By using a carefully selected set of solutes, the training set, linear relationships were established through regression equations between the logarithm of the solute retention factor, logk, and different solute parameters. The coefficients obtained in the regressions were used to create a general retention model able to predict retention in an octadecylsilica stationary phase at any temperature and methanol‐water composition. The validity of the model was evaluated by using a different set (the test set) of 30 solutes of very diverse chemical nature. Predictions of logk values were obtained at two different combinations of temperature and mobile phase composition by using two different procedures: (i) by calculating the coefficients through a mathematical linear relationship in which the mobile phase composition and temperature are involved; (ii) by using a general equation, obtained by considering the previous results, in which only the experimental values of temperature and mobile phase composition are required. Predicted logk values were critically compared with the experimental values. Excellent results were obtained considering the diversity of the test set.     

Influence of column characteristics on retention and selectivity in RP-HPLC

Summary Eight commercially available reversed-phase (RP) columns of widely different characteristics were evaluated and compared using the linear solvation energy relationships (LSER). Retention factors of 32 solutes of different types were determined under isocratic conditions using an acetonitrile-water (30∶70) mobile phase. Stationary phase properties were compared by the fitting coefficients of the LSER-based regression equations which are characteristic of the individual stationary phases and represent the extent of various molecular interactions contributing to the retention process. The good agreement between the calculated and measured logk values for different type of compounds support the adequacy and applicability of the LSER model to describe chromatographic retention. Characterization of column performance for the separation of various type of compounds was established by the determination of the different selectivity factors representing hydrophobic selectivity, polar selectivity and specific selectivity.     

Dependence of the retention volumes of additional streaming current responses and of the column void volume on mobile phase composition

Summary The influence of the alcohol content of the mobile phase and water, acetic acid and aniline as mobile phase additives on the generation and shape of two additional changes of the streaming current, generated inside the liquid chromatography column by injection of any sample and recorded before the responses of retained solutes, was studied in a normal-phase system using silica gel as the stationary phase. The mobile phases were based on a n-heptane-1-propanol mixtures. Under the same conditions the relationships between the column interparticle volume, the column void volume and the total liquid volume in the column and the retention volumes of these two streaming current responses, having the form of chromatographic peaks, were studied. The column void volume was identified with the retention volume of n-octane. The total liquid volume in the column (column hold-up) was calculated from the weight loss of the column wetted with water at first and then dried in nitrogen stream. The retention volume of the first streaming current response equals the column interparticle volume disregarding the mobile phase composition. If the 95∶5 n-heptane-1-propanol mobile phase contains water up to 80% of its saturated concentration (up to 0.114% by vol.), the retention volume of the second response agrees with the total volume of the liquid in the silica gel column, with a precision better than 2%. At a higher relative water saturation the retention volume of the second response increases, while the column void volume decreases. Both changes are explained by the spontaneous formation of a highly polar stagnant liquid in the pores of the silica gel.     

Effective cleanup for the determination of six quinolone residues in shrimp before HPLC with diode array detection in compliance with the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

A high‐performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of six quinolone residues (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, and flumequine) in shrimp tissue samples. Separation was carried out by a LiChrospher® 100 RP‐8e column, running at a 22 min gradient elution program, and the mobile phase consisted of citric acid (0.4 mol/L), acetonitrile and methanol. Detection was achieved by a diode array detector, monitoring at 255 and 275 nm. Sample preparation included initial extraction with citric acid solution and further clean‐up by solid‐phase extraction, employing Lichrolut RP‐18 cartridges. Validation was performed according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC. The detection capability was 127.2 μg/kg for ciprofloxacin, 115.2 μg/kg for enrofloxacin, 126.2 μg/kg for sarafloxacin, 113.1 μg/kg for oxolinic acid, 125.2 μg/kg for nalidixic acid, and 239.0 μg/kg for flumequine. Recoveries ranged between 83.0 and 121.6%. The Youden test was applied to study the method ruggedness.     

Selection of optimal pH and solvent composition for the separation of organic acids using three-dimensional diagrams and a computer program

Summary The retention behaviour of different types of organic acids was investigated on an ODS-Hypersil column using eluents of various pH and of various methanol-water ratios. Equations introduced by Horvath and coworkers were fitted onto the experimental data, and the obtained constants were used to calculate the three-dimensional k′-surfaces for the compounds in the investigated pH and solvent composition range. Using the data of the individual surface diagrams the optimal pH and solventg composition was computed for the separation of six selected compounds. To verify the applicability of the above procedure the chromatographic separation of the six compounds was carried out with the predicted conditions, and the chromatogram obtained is presented.     

A new method for the determination of mobile phase volume in normal and reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary A new method for the determination of the mobile phase volume (V _m) in liquid chromatography is presented based on the model regarding the retention of ionic solutes in the presence of eluent electrolytes. TheV _m value can be determined by measuring the retention volumes of two ions that have the same charge in two eluent electrolyte systems. Compared with the methods using isotopically labelled eluent components or inorganic salts asV _m markers, the method presented is proved to give more reasonableV _m values for both normal and reversed-phase liquid chromatography. As well as in binary mixed solvent systems, theV _m values in single solvent systems can be determined by this method.     

Inertness and stability of a maltose-silica for the separation of proteins by HPLC

Summary A stationary phase consisting of maltose on a silica support, designed for the separation of proteins, is described. When maltose is coupled to aminopropylsilica an effective shielding of the silica surface can be obtained. A size exclusion experiment is used to investigate pore structure and the behaviour of proteins. The stability of the surface layer is studied, as influenced by silica pretreatments and cross-linking reactions. Inertness is studied via the denaturation of trypsin in columns of different length at a number of temperatures. An example of a derivatization of the maltose layer is given which demonstrates its use as an interactive separation medium.     

A comparison of temperature and mobile phase composition effects for bonded liquid crystal and polymeric stationary phases in HPLC

Summary Using two polycyclyic aromatic hydrocarbons as solutes, a comparison is made between a bonded liquid crystal stationary phase and a conventional polymeric C-18 phase. The bonded nematic liquid crystal phase was the silanized form of 4-[4-(allyloxy)benzoyl-oxy]biphenyl and the polymeric phase was Vydac 201TP. Both phases display shape and planarity selectivity as indicated by the results of the variable temperature and mobile phase composition studies. The slot theory of retention can be used to explain these results. However, the liquid crystal phase is more sensitive to molecular geometry, probably due to its more ordered structure on the surface. Variable temperature experiments which compare retention during both heating and cooling provides additional support for this conclusion. With the polymeric bonded C-18 phase, each solute had identical retention at the same temperature during both the heating and cooling cycles. On the bonded liquid crystal phase, measurable differences in retention were observed at identical temperatures depending on whether the column was heated or cooled. This effect is attributed to a degree of partially reversible disordering which occurs as the column temperature was increased. However, conditioning with the appropriate mobile phase can restore the original retention characteristics of the bonded liquid crystal phase.     

Aliphatic monoamines,diamines, polyamines: An HPLC method for their identification and separation by a dansylation reaction; The study of separation factors in homologous series

Summary An analytical method is presented for the identification and separation of aliphatic monoamines, diamines and polyamines. Dansyl chloride as the derivatizing agent and fluorimetric detection were employed. The behaviour of different column packings and eluent compositions was tested and compared. The interaction mechanisms of the dansylated compounds with stationary and mobile phases are discussed on the basis of the analysis of the capacity factors evaluated in the homologous series of monoamines CH₃(CH₂)_nNH₂, with n varying up to 9 and diamines NH₂(CH₂)_nNH₂, with n varying up to 12. An application of this method to a real sample is presented.     

Optimization of St John's Wort flavonoid separation by reversed phase liquid chromatography on a silica-based monolithic column

Summary An optimization procedure for the separation of flavonoids from St John's Wort by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on monolithic stationary phase is described. Three-component mobile phase systems are studied using experimental design methodology. The starting experimental domain is a triangle, each vertex of which is a pure component. From preliminary isocratic experiments, truncations in the domain are performed leading to a quadrilateral shape working domain with no symmetry. To cope with both separation and analysis time, desirability functions are used. Optimal conditions are finally given by binary systems and the four flavonoids are separated in less than seven minutes.     

High-performance liquid chromatography using a color-forming agent as a component of the mobile phase. Separation and determination of nickel and zinc wity xylenol orange

Summary A liquid chromatographic procedure for separating nickel and zinc has been developed. Xylenol orange, which is one of the sensitive and commercially available color-forming agents, was used as a component of the mobile phase. The two ions could be separated on weak anion-exchange gels within 10 min. The procedure was suitable for the determination of nickel and zinc in relatively pure solutions with fairly high sensitivity. The described liquid chromatographic analysis would be also potentially applicable for any aqueous sample containing trace levels of metal cations at 1–10 ppm.     

Comparative study on determination of fumagillin in fish by normal and reversed phase chromatography

Summary Fumagillin is an antibiotic agent mostly used in the veterinary profession. A normal-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of this drug in fish matrices. A hexane-dichloromethanedioxan-2-PrOH-acetic acid (43:43:9:5:0.1 v/v %) eluent was used on a Perkin Elmer silica gel column. For validation of the process a reversed-phase HPLC method was also developed (eluent: acetonitrile-water-bicyclohyxylamine 70:30:0.05 v/v %, with Spherisorb ODS, as stationary phase). Recovery is about 100% and the limit of detection is 5 ng g⁻¹ for meat samples. Presented at: Balaton Symposium on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 3–5, 1997.     

Retention and column efficiency in reversed phase liquid chromatography as a function of pH for optimization purposes

Summary The effects of pH on both the solute retention and the peak shape of ionogenic compounds are studied in order to propose accurate models for pH optimization purposes. Several mathematical models (theoretical and empirical) for describing the variation of the retention factor versus pH are compared within different pH ranges. Limits of such models used for optimizing the pH by requiring only 3 preliminary experimental runs, are discussed in terms of deviations (≤±5%) of predicted retention times from experimental retention times. An original procedure is developed for selecting the most convenient retention model, from a given set of three retention data. This set is also applied to modeling the variation of both peak width and peak asymmetry with mobile phase pH conditions. Such a procedure is demonstrated as helpful for the separation of ionogenic solutes by considering mobile phase pH as an additional variable that can be useful during optimization procedures.