Anion Exchange-Adsorption on Low Capacity Anion Exchangers: Separation of Organic Acids,Amino Acids,Small Chain Peptides

Abstract

The variables that influence the retention of organic analyte anions on a macroporous, high surface area polystyrenedivinyl-benzene copolymer that is chemically modified by attaching tetraalkylammonium groups to the copolymer surface are identified and studied as a function of anion exchange capacity. A combined adsorption-anion exchange retention of the organic analyte anion is possible providing the analyte has both a hydrophophic center and an anionic charge site. As the column anion exchange capacity (0 to 173 μeq of anion exchange sites/column was studied) increases, analyte retention due to adsorption decreases and retention due to anion exchange increases. The factors influencing organic analyte anion retention by adsorption are low anion exchange capacity and mobile phase solvent composition, type of organic modifier, and pH for analytes that are weak organic acids. For anion exchange the major factors are a high anion exchange     

Comparison of Reversed Stationary Phases for the Chromatographic Separation of Inorganic Analytes Using Hydrophobic Ion Mobile Phase Additives

Abstract

Alkyl-modified silica (RSi) and polystyrenedivinylbenzene (PRP-1) stationary phases are compared for the chromatographic separation of inorganic analyte anions and cations using hydro-phobic ions of opposite charge as mobile phase additives. Tetra-alkylammonium salts were used for anion separations and alkyl sulfonate salts for cation separations. Two major equilibria influence the retention of analyte ions on PRP-1. These are: retention of the hydrophobic ion on PRP-1 and an ion exchange selectivity between the hydrophobic counterion and the analyte ion. When using RSi retention is also influenced by ion exchange at residual silanol groups, which act as weak cation exchange sites. Mobile and stationary phase variables that influence analyte retention are identified. Optimization of these provides favorable eluting conditions for the separation of inorganic ionic analytes. Of particular interest is the potential use of PRP-1 and RSi columns for the separation of inorganic cations; conditions for the separation of alkali metals and alkaline earths are discussed.     

Demonstration of simultaneous cation-exchange and reversed-phase mechanisms on a strong-acid cation-exchange column.

It is demonstrated in this report that a conventional strong-acid cation-exchange column can exhibit reversed-phase chromatographic behavior simultaneously with ion-exchange. Adjusting the pH to control cation retention has no effect on the retention of neutral organic analytes. Likewise, changes in the methanol content of the mobile phase to adjust organic analyte retention causes only a small decrease in retention of metal ions in the 0 to 10% (v/v) methanol range, and no significant effect beyond that. Linear calibration behavior of both metal cations and neutral organic analytes is found on this column over three-order of magnitude. Examples of simultaneous metal cation-neutral organic separations in both the isocratic and gradient modes are shown, with conductivity detection for the metal ions and UV for the organic analytes. An isocratic separation of metal ions and neutrals in a vitamin pill is also demonstrated.     

Preparation of a hybrid monolithic stationary phase with allylsulfonate for the rapid and simultaneous separation of cations in capillary ion chromatography

A hybrid monolithic column with sulfonate functionality was successfully prepared for the simultaneous separation of common inorganic cations in ion‐exchange chromatographic mode through a simple and easy single‐step preparation method. The strong cation‐exchange moieties were provided directly from allylsulfonate, which worked as an organic monomer in the single‐step reaction. Inorganic cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Cs⁺, Rb⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺) were separated satisfactorily by using CuSO₄ as the eluent with indirect UV detection. The allysulfonate hybrid monolith showed a better performance in terms of speed and pressure drop than the capillary packed column. The number of theoretical plates achieved was 19 017 plates/m (in the case of NH₄⁺ as the analyte). The relative standard deviations (n = 6) of both retention time and peak height were less than 1.96% for all the analyte cations. The allysulfonate hybrid monolithic column was successfully applied for the rapid and simultaneous separation of inorganic cations in groundwater and the effluent of onsite domestic wastewater treatment system.     

Ion-chromatographic separation of metal cations in the presence of a-hydroxyisobutyric acid

Separations of metal cations on a column packed with the strongly acidic cation exchanger Separon SGX CX were investigated in the presence of -hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIBA) in the mobile phase. A retention model based on the general theory of side equilibria was elaborated and relations describing dependences of capacity factors of analytes on the compositon of the mobile phase were derived. Effects of HIBA concentration and pH of the mobile phase on the analyte retention were studied in detail. Stability constants of divalent metal cations (Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺) with HIBA were calculated from the experimental dependences of the reciprocal values of capacity factors on the ligand concentration.     

Ion-chromatographic separation of metal cations in the presence of α-hydroxyisobutyric acid

Separations of metal cations on a column packed with the strongly acidic cation exchanger Separon SGX CX were investigated in the presence of alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIBA) in the mobile phase. A retention model based on the general theory of side equilibria was elaborated and relations describing dependences of capacity factors of analytes on the compositon of the mobile phase were derived. Effects of HIBA concentration and pH of the mobile phase on the analyte retention were studied in detail. Stability constants of divalent metal cations (Cd(2+), Co(2+), Mn(2+), Ni(2+) and Zn(2+)) with HIBA were calculated from the experimental dependences of the reciprocal values of capacity factors on the ligand concentration.     

Effect of analyte lipophilicity on the resolution of α‐ and β‐amino acids on liquid chromatographic ligand exchange chiral stationary phases

Separation of the two enantiomers of racemic α‐ and β‐amino acids on two ligand exchange chiral stationary phases (CSPs) prepared previously by covalently bonding sodium N‐((S)‐1‐hydroxymethy‐3‐methylbutyl)‐N‐undecylaminoacetate or sodium N‐((R)‐2‐hydroxy‐1‐phenylethyl)‐N‐undecylaminoacetate on silica gel was studied with variation of the organic modifier (methanol) concentration in the aqueous mobile phase. In particular, the variation of retention factors with changing organic modifier concentration in the aqueous mobile phase was found to be strongly dependent on both the analyte lipophilicity and the stationary phase lipophilicity. In general, the retention factors of relatively lipophilic analytes on relatively lipophilic CSPs tend to increase with increasing organic modifier concentration in the aqueous mobile phases while those of less lipophilic or hydrophilic analytes tend to increase. However, only highly lipophilic analytes show decreasing retention factors with increasing organic modifier concentration in the aqueous mobile phase on less lipophilic CSPs. The contrasting retention behaviors on the two CSPs were rationalized by the balance of the two competing interactions, viz. hydrophilic interaction of analytes with polar aqueous mobile phase and the lipophilic interaction of analytes with the stationary phase.     

Capillary-electrochromatographic separations with copolymeric reversed-stationary phase and ion-exchanger-packed columns

A macroporous, spherical, 7 μm, polystyrene–divinylbenzene (PS–DVB), reversed-phase adsorbent (PRP-1) was evaluated as a stationary phase for the capillary electrochromatographic (CEC) separation of neutral, acidic, and basic analytes of pharmaceutical interest. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) for a PRP-1 packed capillary is nearly constant over the pH 2 to 10 range and is higher than for a silica-based C₁₈ packed capillary on the acidic side. EOF increases with an increase in buffer acetonitrile concentration or as applied potential increases. As analyte hydrophobicity increases, analyte retention and migration time increases. Increasing buffer acetonitrile concentration reduces analyte partitioning with the PS–DVB stationary phase and analyte retention and migration time decreases. When exchange sites are present on the PS–DVB copolymer, EOF (EOF is reversed for the anion-exchanger) increases as the exchange capacity increases. An increased exchange capacity also reduces partitioning of the analyte with the PS–DVB matrix and analyte retention and migration time decrease. Because of excellent stability in an acid environment, the PRP-1 packed capillary can be used in strong acid buffer solution and weak acid and base analytes depending on pK_a values can be separated as neutral species and cations, respectively. CEC separations on a PRP-1 capillary of neutral steroids, weak base pharmaceuticals (separation as cations), purines and pyrimidines (as cations), fatty acids (as undissociated species), and sulfa derivatives (as cations) are described. Efficiency for the PRP-1 packed capillary for acetone or thiourea as the analyte is about 6·10⁴ plates m⁻¹.     

Effect of mobile phase anionic additives on selectivity,efficiency, and sample loading capacity of cationic drugs in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

In the present work, we study the effect of mobile phase anionic additive type and concentration on the selectivity, efficiency, and sample loading capacity of cationic drugs in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). The type and concentration of an anionic additive are known to have a strong effect on the absolute retention of cations in RPLC; in contrast they have only a small effect on the selectivity of one cation relative to a second as seen here. This is mainly due to the similarity of the ion pair formation constants between the selected cations. The limiting retention factors of cations (i.e. the retention factor of the fully ion-paired analyte at very high additive concentration) are roughly proportional to their inherent hydrophobicities (i.e. the retention factor of the analyte in the absence of the anionic additive). With a given anion, differences in ion pairing strength between the solutes are required for effective selectivity adjustment. Based on the Wade–Lucy–Carr (W–L–C) kinetic model of overload peaks, the approach we developed in our previous work was used to study the effect of mobile phase anionic additives type and concentration on the limiting plate count (N₀) and sample loading capacity (ω_0.5) of various cationic drugs. Under linear chromatographic conditions, where the analyte exhibits its smallest peak width and thus maximum apparent plate count, the type and concentration of anionic additives have almost no effect on peak width. In comparison to neutral analytes the sorption isotherms of cationic species are very easily overloaded even when many fewer moles of cations as compared to neutrals are injected. We showed that different anionic additives profoundly affect the cations’ “overload profiles” (i.e. plots of plate count versus amount injected) by changing the sample loading capacities. The increase in sample loading capacities with different anions show the same order as the extent of ion pairing between the anions and the basic analytes. The detrimental effect of sample overloading on peak width can be greatly diminished by using either a stronger ion pairing agent or a higher concentration of a given ion pairing agent. Both effects operate by increasing the sample loading capacity, thereby allowing more solute to be injected. We believe that the increase in sample loading capacity described above is due in part to the increase in the number of ion-exchange sites as more anions sorb to the stationary phase. At the same time, the formation of a neutral ion-paired analyte also increases the amount of cation which can be loaded onto the stationary phase by allowing a greater fraction of the analyte to be present in the stationary phase as an electrically neutral (i.e. ion-paired) species.     

Mixed Packings in High Performance Liquid Chromatography. II. Mixed Packings vs. Mixed Ligands

Abstract

The use of mixed packing of different selectivities for the separation of antidepressants and anticonvulsants was studied. The results show that columns packed with mixed ligand supports (C₈ and cation exchange), gave the better resolution and peak shapes than the physically mixed C,₈/cation exchange and serially connected columns. Also, the retention times obtained on the mixed ligands column, the physically mixed supports column and the two columns in series were different in each case.     

Prediction of the effects of methanol and competing ion concentration on retention in the ion chromatographic separation of anionic and cationic pharmaceutically related compounds

The mixed-mode separation of a selection of anionic and cationic pharmaceutically related compounds is studied using ion-exchange columns and eluents consisting of ionic salts (potassium hydroxide or methanesulfonic acid) and an organic modifier (methanol). All separations were performed using commercially available ion-exchange columns and an ion chromatography instrument modified to allow introduction of methanol into the eluent without introducing compatibility problems with the eluent generation system. Isocratic retention prediction was undertaken over the two-dimensional space defined by the concentration of the competing ion and the percentage of organic modifier in the eluent. Various empirical models describing the observed relationships between analyte retention and both the competing ion concentration and the percentage of methanol were evaluated, with the resultant model being capable of describing the separation, including peak width, over the entire experimental space based on six initial experiments. Average errors in retention time and peak width were less than 6% and 27%, respectively, for runs taken from both inside and outside of the experimental space. Separations performed under methanol gradient conditions (while holding the competing ion concentration constant) were also modelled. The observed effect on retention of varying the methanol composition differed between analytes with several analytes exhibiting increased retention with increased percentage methanol in the eluent. An empirical model was derived based on integration of the observed t_R vs. %methanol plot for each analyte. A combination of the isocratic and gradient models allowed for the prediction of retention time using multi-step methanol gradient profiles with average errors in predicted retention times being less than 4% over 30 different 2- and 3-step gradient profiles for anions and less than 6% over 14 different 2- and 3-step gradient profiles for cations. A modified peak compression model was used to estimate peak widths under these conditions. This provided adequate width prediction with the average error between observed and predicted peak widths being less than 15% for 40 1-, 2- and 3-step gradients for anions and less than 13% over 14 1-, 2- and 3-step gradients for cations.     

Separation of Free Amiimo Acids on Reverse Stationary Phases Using an Alkyl Sulfonate Salt as a Mobile Phase Additive

Abstract

Alkylsulfonate (RSO₃ ^?) salts were evaluated as mobile phase additives for the separation of free amino acids on reverse stationary phases using an acidic mobile phase where the amino acids are cations. The enhanced amino acid retention is the result of two major interactions, one being retention of the RSO₃ ^? salt on the stationary phase and the other an ion exchange selectivity between the amino acid analyte cation and the RSO₃ ^? countercation, or other countercations in the mobile phase. Major mobile phase variables are: type and concentration of RSO₃ ^? salt (the studies focused on C₈SO₃ ^? salts), presence of organic modifier, type of countercation present, and mobile phase pH and ionic strength. Alkyl modified silica and polystyrenedivinyl-benzene copolymeric reverse stationary phases were compared. A mobile phase gradient, increasing per cent organic modifier was shown to be best, is necessary for separating complex mixtures of polar and nonpolar or basic amino acids. The procedure is applicable to the identification and/or determination of amino acids in mixtures or in peptides after hydrolysis.     

An ion-exchange separation of Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+) and Tl(+) on silica gel with polarographic detection

The HPLC separation of heavy metal cations was studied with a column packed with Separon SGX silica gel. The retention of the cations is controlled by an ion-exchange mechanism. The ion-exchange capacity is primarily dependent on the mobile phase pH. The analyte retention is further affected by the type and concentration of the completing agent present and of the counterion. The effect of acetate, tartrate and -hydroxyisobutyrate as complexing agents and that of methanol as the organic modifier were studied in detail and the results were compared with the theoretical model of ion-exchange separation. Simple mixtures of metals can be rapidly separated on a short column (30 × 3.3 mm i.d.), e.g., with a mobile phase containing 10⁻²M tartrate at pH 6.0. The metals separated can be detected by dc amperometry at a hanging mercury drop electrode. The limits of detection at an electrode potential of −0.95 V (Ag/AgCl) are in the units—tens of ng range with 20-μl samples with satisfactory precision (RSD values of 2–6%). The main advantages of the method are rapidly and simplicity because derivatization of the analytes is not required.     

Modeling the effects of type and concentration of organic modifiers, column type and chemical structure of analytes on the retention in reversed phase liquid chromatography using a single model

A previously proposed model for representing the retention factor (k) of an analyte in mixed solvent mobile phases was extended to calculate the k of different analytes with respect to the nature of analyte, organic modifier, its concentration and type of the stationary phase. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by calculating mean percentage deviation (MPD) as accuracy criterion. The predicted vs. observed plots were also provided as goodness of fit criteria. The developed model prediction capability compared with a number of previous models (i.e. LSER, general LSER and Oscik equation) through MPD and fitting plots. The proposed method provided acceptable predictions with the advantage of modeling the effects of organic modifiers, mobile phase compositions, columns and analytes using a single equation. The accuracy of developed model was checked using the one column and one analyte out cross validation analyses and the results showed that the developed model was able to predict the unknown analyte retention and the analytes retentions on unknown column accurately.     

Low-capacity cation-exchange chromatography of ultraviolet-absorbing urinary basic metabolites using a reversed-phase column coated with hexadecylsulfonate

A low-capacity cation-exchange HPLC method for the determination of UV-absorbing organic cations such as amino acids, histidine dipeptides, and creatinine was developed. A commercially available reversed-phase column was dynamically coated with hexadecylsulfonate, and was successfully used for the cation-exchange separation with ethylenediammonium eluting ion at pH 2.5. The coated column was enough stable for the specific use with a completely aqueous mobile phase at low and constant pH; and the day-to-day reproducibility for retention time was 0.9-1.7% of RSD (relative standard deviation). The linear relation between concentrations and detector responses (area) by using a photodiode-array UV detection at 210 nm ranged from 0.2 to 1000 microM (sample size 50 microl) for 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine, histidine, creatinine, anserine, carnosine, and homocarnosine, and from 0.5 to 2000 microM for creatine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, with less than 5% of RSD. The UV spectrum (190-300 nm) obtained during chromatography was very indicative for each analyte. Overall recoveries were 97-104%. The developed HPLC method in conjunction with preliminary fractionation technique could be applied to the analysis of urine of patient with metabolic disorder such as phenylketonuria.     

Influence of inorganic mobile phase additives on the retention, efficiency and peak symmetry of protonated basic compounds in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Inorganic eluent additives affect the retention of protonated basic analytes in reversed-phase HPLC. This influence is attributed to the disruption of the analyte solvation-desolvation equilibria in the mobile phase, also known as "chaotropic effect". With an increase of counteranion concentration analyte retention increases with concomitant decrease in the tailing factor. Different inorganic counteranions at equimolar concentrations affect protonated basic analyte retention and peak symmetry to varying degrees. The effect of the concentrations of four different inorganic mobile phase additives (KPF6, NaClO4, NaBF4, NaH2PO4) on the analyte retention, peak symmetry, and efficiency on a C8-bonded silica column has been studied. The analytes used in this study included phenols, toluene, benzyl amines, beta-blockers and ophthalmic drugs. The following trend in increase of basic analyte retention factor and decrease of tailing factor was found: PF6- > ClO4- approximately BF4- > H2PO4-. With the increase of the counteranion concentration greater analyte loading could be achieved and consequently an increase in the apparent efficiency was observed until the maximum plate number for the column was achieved. At the highest concentration of counteranions, the peak efficiency for most of the basic compounds studied was similar to that of the neutral markers. In contrast, the neutral markers, such as phenols, showed no significant changes in retention, efficiency or loading capacity as counteranion concentration was increased.     

Retention of ionizable compounds on high-performance liquid chromatography: VII. Characterization of the retention of ionic solutes in a C18 column by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

The elution of ions from a C₁₈ column with mobile phases containing methanol (60%, v/v) and aqueous buffers is studied by mass spectrometry. It is demonstrated that the anions are excluded from the stationary phase by the ionized silanols. However, the ionized silanols interact strongly with cations, which are retained in the column. These cations are later eluted from the column by ion exchange with the cations present in the pH buffered mobile phase. The size of the ions, the mobile phase cation concentration and the mobile phase pH are the main parameters that affect elution of the retained cations. It is also demonstrated that there are at least two different types of ionizable silanols, with different acidities, that contribute to the retention of cations. An estimate of the pK_a values of these two groups of silanols in 60% methanol is given.     

Mechanistic studies on the separation of cations in zwitterionic ion chromatography

Electrostatic ion chromatography, also known as zwitterionic ion chromatography, has been predominantly used for the analysis of anions. Consequently, separation mechanisms proposed for this technique have been based on anion retention data obtained using a sulfobetaine-type surfactant-coated column. A comprehensive cation retention data set has been obtained on a C18 column coated with the zwitterionic surfactant N-tetradecylphosphocholine (which has the negatively and positively charged functional groups reversed in comparison to the sulfobetaine surfactants), with mobile phases being varied systematically in the concentration and species of both the mobile-phase anion and cation. A retention mechanism based on both an ion exclusion effect and a direct (chaotropic) interaction with the inner negative charge on the zwitterion is proposed for the retention of cations. Despite the relatively low chaotropic nature of cations compared with anions, the retention data shows that cations are retained in this system predominantly due to a chaotropic interaction with the inner charge, analogous to anions in a system where the C18 column is coated with a sulfobetaine-type surfactant. The retention of an analyte cation, and the effect of the mobile-phase anion and cation, can be predicted by the relative positions of these species on the Hofmeister (chaotropic) series.     

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography separation mechanisms of tetracyclines on amino-bonded silica column

Effects of mobile-phase variations on the chromatographic separation on amino-bonded silica column in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) were investigated for four zwitterionic tetracyclines (TCs): oxytetracycline, doxycycline, chlortetracycline, and tetracycline. A mixed-mode retention mechanism composed of partitioning, adsorption, and ion exchange interactions was proposed for the amino HILIC retention process. Buffer type and pH significantly influenced the retention of TCs, but showed similar separation selectivity for the tested analytes. Experiments varying buffer salt concentration and pH demonstrated the presence of ion exchange interactions in TCs retention. The type and concentration of organic modifier also affected the retention and selectivity of the analytes, providing direct evidence supporting the Alpert retention model for HILIC. The retention time of the analytes increased in the following order of organic modifiers: tetrahydrofuran < methanol < isopropanol < acetonitrile. The linear relationships of logk' versus %water (v/v) curve and logk' versus logarithm of %water (v/v) in the mobile phase indicated that TCs separation on the amino phase was controlled by partitioning and adsorption. The developed method was successfully utilized in the detection of TCs in both river water and wastewater samples using solid-phase extraction (SPE) for sample cleanup.