Deactivation of small-diameter fused-silica capillary columns for gas and supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary In order to prevent plugging during deactivation of small diameter (50 m i.d.) capillary columns for gas and supercritical fluid chromatography, various high temperature deactivation methods were employed. Pure hexamethyldisilazane and hexamethyldisiloxane (a substitute for D₄) were dynamically coated on the column, while a film (0.05 m) of OV-101 was statically coated, before high temperature (450°C) treatment. Excellent deactivated columns were obtained, and no significant difference in column activity was observed using any of these three methods.Dedicated to Professor S. R. Lipsky on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Columns in analytical-scale supercritical fluid chromatography: From traditional to unconventional chemistries

Within this review, we thoroughly explored supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) columns used across > 3000 papers published from the first study carried out under SFC conditions in 1962 to the end of 2022. We focused on the open tubular capillary, packed capillary, and packed columns, their chemistries, dimensions, and trends in used stationary phases with correlation to their specific interactions, advantages, drawbacks, used instrumentation, and application field. Since the 1990s, packed columns with liquid chromatography and SFC-dedicated stationary phases for chiral and achiral separation are predominantly used. These stationary phases are based on silica support modified with a wide range of chemical moieties. Moreover, numerous unconventional stationary phases were evaluated, including porous graphitic carbon, titania, zirconia, alumina, liquid crystals, and ionic liquids. The applications of unconventional stationary phases are described in detail as they bring essential findings required for further development of the supercritical fluid chromatography technique.     

Direct resolution of racemic compounds on chiral microbore columns by sub- and supercritical fluid chromatography

Fast resolutions of racemic compounds (sulfoxides, amino alcohols, and α-methylarylacetic acids derivatives) were achieved on a chiral microbore column using carbon dioxide and a polar methanol/dioxane modifier. The stationary phase used in this study contains the 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl derivative of R,R(?)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH-DNB) as the chiral moiety, anchored to a silica gel surface by covalent bonds. Both thermodynamic and kinetic separation performances were improved by using a super- or subcritical carbon dioxide mobile phase (SFC, SubFC).     

Enantiomeric separation of six chiral pesticides that contain chiral sulfur/phosphorus atoms by supercritical fluid chromatography

Six chiral pesticides containing chiral sulfur/phosphorus atoms were separated by supercritical fluid chromatography with supercritical CO₂ as the main mobile phase component. The effect of the chiral stationary phase, different type and concentration of modifiers, column temperature, and backpressure on the separation efficiency was investigated to obtain the appropriate separation condition. Five chiral pesticides (isofenphos‐methyl, isocarbophos, flufiprole, fipronil, and ethiprole) were baseline separated under experimental conditions, while isofenphos only obtained partial separation. The Chiralpak AD‐3 column showed a better chiral separation ability than others for chiral pesticides containing chiral sulfur/phosphorus atoms. When different modifiers at the same concentration were used, the retention factor of pesticides except flufiprole decreased in the order of isopropanol, ethanol, methanol; meanwhile, the retention factor of flufiprole increased in the order of isopropanol, ethanol, methanol. For a given modifier, the retention factor and resolution decreased on the whole with the increase of its concentration. The enantiomer separation of five chiral pesticides was an “enthalpy‐driven” process, and the separation factor decreased as the temperature increased. The backpressure of the mobile phase had little effect on the separation factor and resolution.     

Retention of cyanoalkanes and cyanoalkylbenzenes by bonded stationary phases in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary The retention of cyanoalkanes and cyano-alkylbenzenes during SFC was investigated on alkyl and cyanoalkyl-bonded stationary phases and compared to alkane retention. The particular behaviour of short chain homologues was attributed to a silanophilic interaction with surface-OH groups on the silica and inhibition of specific interactions between solutes and C₁₀CN bonded groups.     

Guidelines for tuning the macropore structure of monolithic columns for high‐performance liquid chromatography

The ability to control the external porosity and to tune the dimensions of the macropore size on multiple length scales provides the possibility of tailoring the monolithic support structure towards separation performance. This paper discusses the properties of conventional polymer–monolithic stationary phases and its limitations regarding the effects of morphology on kinetic performance. Furthermore, guidelines to improve the macropore structure are discussed. The optimal monolithic macropore structure is characterized by high external porosity (while maintaining ultra‐high‐pressure stability), high structure homogeneity, polymer globule clusters in the submicron range, and macropores with a diameter tuned toward speed (small diameter in the 100–500 nm range using short beds) or efficiency (larger macropores in the range of 500 nm–1 μm allowing the use of longer column formats). Finally, promising approaches to control the morphology are discussed.     

Fast separation of flavonoids by supercritical fluid chromatography using a column packed with a sub‐2 μm particle stationary phase

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different chromatographic columns for the separation of seven flavonoids. Four different stationary phases are available, including bridged ethyl hybrid, BEH and the same hybrid phase modified with 2‐ethylpyridine, CSH fluorophenyl, and HSS C₁₈ SB. The analytes included calycosin, genistein, medicarpin, calycosin‐7‐O‐β‐d ‐glucoside, formononetin, formononetin‐7‐O‐β‐d ‐glucoside, and liquiritigenin. The CSH fluorophenyl column was determined to be the most suitable and provided the fastest separation within 17 min using gradient elution with carbon dioxide as the mobile phase and methanol as the co‐solvent. Good peak shapes were obtained, and the values of the peak asymmetry were close to 1.0 for all of the flavonoids. The resolution was more than 1.41 for all of the separated peaks. Baseline separation on the optimal columns was achieved by changing the co‐solvent type and adjusting the temperature and pressure. Quantitative performance was evaluated under optimized conditions, and method validation was accomplished. The validation parameters, such as linearity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, were satisfactory. Good repeatability of both peak area (relative standard deviation <1.02%) and retention time (relative standard deviation <0.88%) was observed. The optimized chromatographic methods were successfully used for the determination of seven flavonoids in Radix astragali . The sensitivity was sufficient for the analysis of real samples.     

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.     

Liquid crystal stationary phases for gas chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography

Novel monomeric and polymeric liquid crystalline compounds were synthesized as stationary phases for gas chromatography (GC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Monomeric liquid crystalline compounds were used in packed column gas chromatography for the separation of isomeric aromatic compounds and insect sex pheromones. Liquid crystalline polymers possess long nematic ranges and a uniform coating was easily achieved in glass and fused silica capillaries, which could stand temperatures up to 250°C in GC and pressures of 200 MPa at 160°C in SFC. The columns provide excellent selectivity and resolution for fused ring aromatic compounds such as the isomers anthracene and phenanthrene or triphenylene and chrysene.     

超临界流体色谱与高效液相色谱分离手性化合物的比较

超临界流体色谱(SFC)分离具有速度快、分离效率高、溶剂消耗少等优点,近年来在手性化合物的分离分析中得到诸多应用。本文对比研究了涂覆型多糖手性色谱柱在SFC和高效液相色谱(HPLC)上拆分24种手性化合物的差异。通过比较这些化合物在色谱柱上的保留时间和选择因子等发现多数化合物在SFC上的分离效率要高于其在HPLC上的分离效率,但HPLC对轴手性化合物的分离效率要优于SFC。SFC和HPLC的分离表现出一定的互补性,随着苯环侧链烷基的碳数增加,化合物在SFC上的保留逐渐增强,而在HPLC的保留却逐渐减弱。叶菌唑在使用SFC和HPLC分析时出现了洗脱顺序反转的现象。这些结果为SFC手性拆分提供了参考。     

Thermodynamic enantioseparation behavior of phenylthiohydantoin‐amino acid derivatives in supercritical fluid chromatography on polysaccharide chiral stationary phases

Thirteen pairs of enantiomers belonging to the same structural family (phenylthiohydantoin‐amino acids) were analyzed on two polysaccharide chiral stationary phases, namely, tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) of amylose (Chiralpak AD‐H) or cellulose (Chiralcel OD‐H) in supercritical fluid chromatography with a carbon dioxide/methanol mobile phase (90:10 v/v). Five different temperatures (5, 10, 20, 30, 40°C) were applied to evaluate the thermodynamic behavior of these enantioseparations. On the cellulose stationary phase, the retention, and separation trends were most similar among the set of probe analytes, suggesting that the chiral cavities in this stationary phase have little diversity, or that all analytes accessed the same cavities. Conversely, the retention and separation trends on the amylose phase were much more diverse, and could be related to structural differences among the set of probe analytes (carbon chain length in the amino acid residue, secondary amine in proline, existence of covalent rings, or formation of pseudo‐rings via intramolecular hydrogen bonds). The large variability of behaviors on the amylose phase suggests that the chiral‐binding sites in this chiral stationary phase have more variety than on the cellulose phase, and that the analytes did access different cavities.     

On-line multidimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/capillary gas chromatography

A new analytical technique combining on-line supercritical fluid chromatography with capillary gas chromatography has been developed. The supercritical fluid sample effluent is decompressed through a restrictor directly into a conventional capillary gas chromatographic injection port. This technique allows for not only direct (100%) sample transfer from the supercritical fluid chromatograph to the gas chromatograph but also for selective or multi-step heartcutting of various sample peaks as they elute from the supercritical fluid chromatograph. Heartcut times are determined by monitoring the responses from the flame ionization or ultraviolet absorbance detectors on the supercritical fluid chromatograph. This report describes the operational setup and provides the results of heartcut reproducibility experiments using normal hydrocarbon and aromatic test mixtures. Results from studies where operational parameters were varied, such as GC injector temperature, will also be provided. The potential usefulness of this new technique for selective heartcutting will also be demonstrated using complex hydrocarbon streams.     

Practical aspects of mixed mobile phases in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

Studies of mixed mobile phases in supercritical fluid chromatography must include consideration of a number of factors. Phase equilibria and critical parameters of a mixed fluid are very important in both the solvent delivery system and in the chromatographic column. The effects of pressure and temperature on retention with mixed mobile phases were studied and compared to estimated density values. System equilibration times with regard to pressure, temperature, and composition were studied. A mixed mobile phase was applied to the analysis of a high-molecular-weight metalloporphyrin.     

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.     

Purification of OV-17 by supercritical fluid fractionation for fused silica capillary gas chromatography

Commercially available OV-17 was partitioned into a low and a higher molecular weight fraction by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide. This higher molecular weight fraction is more thermally stable than the original OV-17 due to its more viscous and gum-like nature. Based on the growing evidence in the literature that a deactivating agent for fused silica open tubular columns should be compatible with the stationary phase, a precoat of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triphenylcyclotrisiloxane was applied prior to the static coating of high molecular weight OV-17. Fused silica OV-17 columns prepared in this fashion are stable up to 300°C.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography in chiral separations: Evaluation of equivalency of polysaccharide stationary phases

Nine different chiral columns based on covalently immobilized or coated tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) cellulose and amylose have been explored. We evaluated their respective enantioselective potential including the enantioseparation and qualitative characteristics of peaks. The generic screening conditions were using gradient elution from 5 to 40% organic modifier/CO₂ during 3 min with about 40 enantiomer pairs. Primary screening was carried out using ten different mobile phases varying in type of additives while using one representative amylose‐ and one cellulose‐based column. The complete evaluation of all nine columns was then carried out using three best performing organic modifiers: (1) methanol + 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid + 0.1% diethylamine, (2) isopropanol + 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid + 0.1% diethylamine, and (3) methanol + 0.1% ammonium hydroxide. Equivalency of different columns with the same chiral selector was not confirmed. Columns with the same stationary phase but different supports or manufacturing methods displayed differences in enantioselectivity and general performance. The similarity corresponded to 62 and 63% for the three cellulose‐coated columns taking CEL1 as the reference. The similarity was 67% for the pair of amylose‐based coated columns. For immobilized columns, the similarity was 69 and 59% for celluloses and amyloses pairs, respectively. The best performing column based on success rate of enantioseparation was Chiralcel OD‐3 when using methanol + 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and 0.1% diethylamine combined additive.     

Cellulose tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐based chiral stationary phase for the enantioseparation of drugs in supercritical fluid chromatography: comparison with HPLC

A cellulose tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐based chiral stationary phase was studied as a tool for the enantioselective separation of 21 selected analytes with different pharmaceutical and physicochemical properties. The enantioseparations were performed using supercritical fluid chromatography. The effect of the mobile phase composition was studied. Four different additives (diethylamine, triethylamine, isopropylamine, and trifluoroacetic acid) and isopropylamine combined with trifluoroacetic acid were tested and their influence on enantioseparation was compared. The influence of two different mobile phase co‐solvents (methanol and propan‐2‐ol) combined with all the additives was also evaluated. The best mobile phase compositions for the separation of the majority of enantiomers were CO₂/methanol/isopropylamine 80:20:0.1 v/v/v or CO₂/propan‐2‐ol/isopropylamine/trifluoroacetic acid 80:20:0.05:0.05 v/v/v/v. The best results were obtained from the group of basic β‐blockers. A high‐performance liquid chromatography separation system composed of the same stationary phase and mobile phase of similar properties prepared as a mixture of hexane/propan‐2‐ol/additive 80:20:0.1 v/v/v was considered for comparison. Supercritical fluid chromatography was found to yield better results, i.e. better enantioresolution for shorter analysis times than high‐performance liquid chromatography. However, examples of enantiomers better resolved under the optimized conditions in high‐performance liquid chromatography were also found.     

Comparison of ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography,ultra high performance liquid chromatography,and gas chromatography for the separation of synthetic cathinones

A comparison of ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography, ultra high performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography for the separation of synthetic cathinones has been conducted. Nine different mixtures of bath salts were analyzed in this study. The three different chromatographic techniques were examined using a general set of controlled synthetic cathinones as well as a variety of other synthetic cathinones that exist as positional isomers. Overall 35 different synthetic cathinones were analyzed. A variety of column types and chromatographic modes were examined for developing each separation. For the ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography separations, analyses were performed using a series of Torus and Trefoil columns with either ammonium formate or ammonium hydroxide as additives, and methanol, ethanol or isopropanol organic solvents as modifiers. Ultra high performance liquid chromatographic separations were performed in both reversed phase and hydrophilic interaction chromatographic modes using SPP C18 and SPP HILIC columns. Gas chromatography separations were performed using an Elite‐5MS capillary column. The orthogonality of ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography, ultra high performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography was examined using principal component analysis. For the best overall separation of synthetic cathinones, the use of ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography in combination with gas chromatography is recommended.