Enricher for fraction of high-pressure liquid chromatography

A device is developed for concentrating a dilute solution without losing the components with boiling points slightly higher than the solvent. The device consists of an evaporator, receptor, and approximately 100 capillaries. A dilute solution is introduced into the evaporator and heated at a lower temperature than the boiling point of the solvent with the addition of a helium gas flow. As a result, mostly only the solvent evaporates, passes through the capillaries, and enters into the receptor. The low-boiling-point components in the solute, with boiling points slightly higher than the solvent, are trapped at the inlet of the capillaries. These components are then recovered by a small amount of solvent supplied from the receptor through the capillaries, with the main components of the solute concentrated at the bottom of the evaporator. A diesel fuel is separated into aliphatic and aromatic fractions by high-pressure liquid chromatography using a silica gel column. These fractions are then analyzed by low-resolution field ionization mass spectrometry, following concentration using the described device. The analytical results show that the final composition of the fractions is almost the same as that of the aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons in the original fuel.     

Switching valves for use in multi-column gas chromatography

Two switching valves for use in multi-column and frontal gas chromatography are described. Constructional and operational details are given and examples of use are quoted.     

Intelligent optimization of multi-column system of chromatography

To solve problems of the analysis of very complex mixtures, a multi-column system can be used. This needs a multi-column switching system or selectivity tuning for serially connected columns and is very difficulty to operate, therefore being unsuitable for standardization. Therefore, an intelligent optimization method for the multi-column system has been developed based on experimental data and the reliability of analytic results. As main results, optimization rules of column selectivity matching have been gained from experimental facts. The adaption of the multi-column system for different samples has been discussed and a method for comparison of column selectivities is presented. Practical analytic results using the multi-column system are demonstrated to verify the procedure.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. J. F. K. Huber on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Performance limits and kinetic optimization of parallel and serially connected multi-column systems spanning a wide range of efficiencies for liquid chromatography

Using a set of experimentally determined liquid chromatography column performance data, it has been investigated how a range of efficiencies can best be covered when using a multi-column system. Two main variants are considered: a serially-connected variant (realizing different column lengths by connecting a different number of column segments in series) and a parallel-connected variant (realizing different column lengths by simply switching between columns with a different length arranged in parallel). Both variants are compared for their ability to keep the average analysis time along a given range of efficiencies as close as possible to the intrinsic Knox & Saleem-speed limit. It was found that the serial connection mode offers a better compromise between average speed and amount of required silica (total required column length) than the parallel connection mode for all efficiency ranges running from 5000–10,000 plates up to 75,000–150,000 plates. Considering an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) operation at 1200 bar, the best possible serial connection system can get within about within 15–25% of the Knox & Saleem-speed limit, whereas a three-column parallel system can only get to within 40–50% of the speed limit, while needing 50–100% more total column length. In absolute terms, the serially-connected system with individually optimized segment lengths should be able to cover a range of 5000–75,000 theoretical plates (dynamic range of 25) in an average analysis time of 14.3 min when using a 1200 bar instrument. At 400 bar, this would be 37.9 min, showing that the construction of wide-efficiency range systems would be one of the application areas where the advantages of UHPLC-conditions would be most fully realized.     

基于集成化多柱二维液相色谱系统分析血清中的氨磺必利

快速准确的治疗药物监测对于临床上确保患者用药有效性及安全性至关重要,同时也能够确定患者用药依从性,制定个性化给药方案。该文以两支疏水性略有差异的反相分离柱Supersil ODS2和SinoChrom ODS-BP,及强阳离子交换捕集柱Supersil SCX构建了基于集成化的多柱二维液相色谱系统。通过二维色谱接口,以pH 3.0的磷酸缓冲液调整第一维分离后的洗脱液组成,降低有机相含量并维持pH,改善了中心切割模式下样品转移和捕集的效率。利用该多柱二维液相色谱系统发展了血清中氨磺必利的二维液相色谱检测方法,血清样品经过高氯酸和甲醇混合液沉淀蛋白质并离心后直接300 μL大体积进样,以乙腈/磷酸缓冲液(25 mmol/L, pH 3.0)(20/80, v/v)作为第一维分离流动相,磷酸缓冲液(25 mmol/L, pH 3.0)作为捕集过程的稀释流动相,乙腈/磷酸缓冲液(25 mmol/L, pH 7.0)(25/75, v/v)作为第二维分离流动相,12 min内即可完成分析。方法在10~200 ng/mL的范围内线性相关性良好(r=0.9998)。样品在50 ng/mL和100 ng/mL两个加标浓度下的回收率稳定,在73.7%~76.8%之间。方法的检出限为7.28 ng/mL,定量限为24.27 ng/mL,能够满足《神经精神药理学治疗药物检测共识指南》中推荐的药物监控范围要求。由于该系统日常使用及维护成本较低,且能够实现自动化分析,故该方法适合在临床上用于治疗药物监测研究。     

Design of a fraction collector for capillary array electrophoresis

This paper describes a prototype instrument for high-throughput fraction collection with capillary array electrophoresis (CAE). The design of the system was based on a comprehensive collection approach, in which fractions from all capillaries were simultaneously collected in individual collection microwells in predefined time intervals. The location of the fractions in the microwells on the collection plate was determined by monitoring the individual zone velocities close to the end of each capillary. The collection microwell plate was fabricated from buffer-saturated agarose gel, which maintained permanent electrical contact with the separation capillaries during the collection process. Since the collection gel plate consisted of over 90% water, liquid evaporation from the collection wells was minimized. A 12-capillary array instrument was built with two-point detection using a side illumination scheme. The collection performance was demonstrated by reinjection of selected fractions of a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) separation. The identity of collected DNA fragments was confirmed by PCR and sequencing.     

Capillary liquid chromatography fraction collection and postcolumn reaction using segmented flow microfluidics

A challenge for capillary LC (cLC) is fraction collection and the manipulation of fractions from microscale columns. An emerging approach is the use of segmented flow or droplet technology to perform such tasks. In this work, a fraction collection and postcolumn reaction system based on segmented flow was developed for the gradient cLC of proteins. In the system, column effluent and immiscible oil are pumped into separate arms of a tee resulting in regular fractions of effluent segmented by oil. Fractions were generated at 1 Hz corresponding to 5 nL volumes. The fraction collection rate was high enough to generate over 30 fractions per peak and preserve chromatographic resolution achieved for a five‐protein test mixture. The resulting fractions could be stored and subsequently derivatized for fluorescence detection by pumping them into a second tee where naphthalene dicarboxyaldehyde, a fluorogenic reagent, was pumped into a second arm and added to each fraction. Proteins were derivatized within the droplets enabling postcolumn fluorescence detection of the proteins. The experiments demonstrate that fraction collection from cLC by segmented flow can be extended to proteins. Further, they illustrate a potential workflow for protein analysis based on postcolumn derivatization for fluorescence detection.     

Instrumental method for automated on-line fraction analysis and peak deconvolution in multicomponent-overloaded high-performance liquid chromatography

A bi-dimensional (non-orthogonal) chromatographic system made of two columns of different length (longer along the first direction and shorter on the second) but packed with identical (or similar) materials has been employed to perform automated on-line fraction analysis and peak deconvolution of multicomponent overloaded band profiles. Multicomponent overloaded peaks, eluted from the first column, are sampled through a remotely-controlled switching valve and fractions are injected, under analytical conditions, directly into the second direction. This set-up serves a twofold purpose. First of all, it has been possible to use linear calibration curves for detector calibration (DC). Secondly, since single component peaks were resolved on the second direction, individual concentration profiles have been obtained beneath the envelop of overlapping bands. All the information necessary to operate the bi-dimensional system can be achieved by analyzing the chromatographic behavior of the mixture on the shorter column under linear conditions. Therefore, solutions of unknown concentration can be prepared and their composition reconstructed with a simple chromatographic run. Two- and three-component overloaded mixtures have been employed to validate the system.     

Radio gas chromatography on capillary columns using a multi-column system (column-switching)

Summary A gas chromatographic system with capillary columns (fused silica) for the analysis of radiolabelled compounds is described. The system presented is based on a dual column gas chromatograph equipped with column switching facllity and a variable splitter at the column outlet combined with a dead-volume free adapter for the radioactivity monitor for continous measurement of radioactivity in the column effluent. The first column works as a separation column and the second is roughly shortened and used as a feed to the mass detector. The adjustment of the split ratio is regulated by the inlet pressures for the carrier gas supplying both columns. For mass detection all conventional systems can be used. Detection of radioactivity by a gas proportional counter (system based on a combustion technique). Three flow modes can be adjusted: a) total column effluent to the mass detector or b) to the radioactivity monitor, and c) simultaneous flow (dependent on the chosen split ratio) to mass-and radioactivity detectors. The system was developed for use in clinical chemistry and tested with labelled and unlabelled steroids. The method for peak identification by means of relative retention times and methylene units was possible also for radioactive peaks when a heart cutting technique was used. The radio gas chromatographic system presented allows the development of radiochromatograms with the same peak characteristics as in conventional capillary gas chromatography.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Polymeric columns for liquid chromatography

Polymeric columns are becoming used more frequently in modern liquid chromatography applications as improvements in polymeric packing materials are realized and as more applications are developed for these materials. Modern polymers have overcome earlier problems associated with their use; higher rigidity now allows them to be used at normal eluent flow rates resulting in faster analyses, and improved synthesis techniques have resulted in efficiencies comparable to the best silica materials, sometimes exceeding 100,000 plates/m. In addition, polymers offer distinct advantages over silica packing for particular applications. Because silica packings are readily degraded by aqueous eluents, they are not always suitable for separations involving ionic species. Polymeric columns are particularly useful in determinations of amino acids, peptides, proteins, organic acids, carbohydrates, and inorganic cations and anions. Polymers are also characterized by exceptional lot-to-lot reproducibility. Reproducibility is often problematic with silica packings, particularly the bonded phases.     

Automated instrumental method for on-line fraction analysis and peak deconvolution in gradient multicomponent overloaded high performance liquid chromatography

An automated method for deconvolution of overloaded band profiles in gradient elution is described. The instrumental set-up consists of a pseudo-bidimensional HPLC system, where overloaded band profiles generated in the first direction are sampled on the second one. The method, previously employed under isocratic conditions, has been now extended to gradient elution, where one has to face the problem of band compression (and possibly band interference) during gradient, which decreases the time-window available along the first direction for sampling the overloaded profiles. The effect of the gradient steepness on the problem of defining a minimum number of sampling points to reconstruct single component bands from overloaded profiles is investigated. This approach is particularly useful in the framework of using inverse method (IM) to determine adsorption isotherm parameters for preparative gradient elution. In fact, it allows for the gathering of the information necessary to run IM calculations with minimum efford, also in cases where the individual component forming the mixture have different UV spectra.     

Multidimensional liquid chromatography for sample characterisation

While LC finds enormously widespread use in almost all areas of chemical science, the technique is limited as a means of identification because compounds do not elute with unique retention times. This limitation spurred the growth of hyphenated instrumental methods of analysis, such as LC-MS/MS, which because of the MS/ MS detection became a method of identification. However, techniques like LC-MS/ MS are specialised and require high initial purchase and running costs, inhibiting the more widespread growth of the technique. In an attempt to increase the separation power of LC, multi-dimensional LC was developed. This expanded the separation space and subsequently has allowed the development of methods with fingerprinting ability due to the lower probability of component overlap. The work in this study illustrates the application of 2-D LC as a means of chemical fingerprinting. We employed a sample base of various low molecular weight oligostyrenes and their diastereomers that represent a population of compounds whose selectivities in a one-dimensional separation are almost unity and hence essentially impossible to separate. Yet in a 2-D domain almost all individual components occupy unique 2-D retention times.     

Pneumatic pulse dampener for liquid chromatography

A simple pulse dampener is described for use with reciprocating pumps. The dampener may be assembled locally form readily available components and consists mainly of a small reservoir of compressed helium which acts as a cushion to dampen the mobile phase pulsations pneumatically. Depulsing is 99% complete and is uniform through a wide pressure range. The pneumatic dampener allows the use of single- piston reciprocating pumps in conjunction with highly flow-sensitive detectors at their highest sensitivity settings.