Retention and selectivity of stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction chromatography

More and more polar stationary phases have become available for the separation of small polar compounds in the past decade as hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) continues to find applications in new fields (e.g., metabolomics and proteomics). Bare silica phases remain popular, especially in the bio-analytical area. A wide range of functional groups (e.g., amino, amide, diol, sulfobetaine, and triazole) have been employed as polar stationary phases for HILIC separation. This review provides a survey of the popular stationary phases commercially available and discusses the retention and selectivity characteristics of the polar stationary phases in HILIC. The purpose of the review is not to provide a comprehensive overview of literature reports, but rather focuses on findings that demonstrate retention and selectivity of the polar stationary phases in HILIC.     

Cyclofructan 6 based stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

New stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) were synthesized by covalently attaching native cyclofructan 6 (CF6) to silica gel. The chromatographic characteristics of the new stationary phases were evaluated and compared to three different types of commercial HILIC columns. The CF6 columns produced considerably different retention and selectivity patterns for various classes of polar analytes, including nucleic acid compounds, xanthines, β-blockers, salicylic acid and its derivatives, and maltooligosaccharides. Univariate optimization approaches were examined including organic modifier (acetonitrile) contents and buffer pH and salt concentration. The thermodynamic characteristic of the CF6 stationary phase was investigated by considering the column temperature effect on retention and utilizing van't Hoff plots. CF6 based stationary phases appear to have exceptionally broad applicability for HILIC mode separations.     

Development and evaluation of new zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography stationary phases based on 3-P,P-diphenylphosphonium-propylsulfonate

New zwitterionic stationary phases were synthesized by covalently bonding 3-P,P-diphenylphosphonium-propylsulfonate to silica gel. The resulting materials possess both a negatively charged sulfonate group and a positively charged quaternary phosphonium group, which means that there is no net charge over a wide pH range. The retention mechanism and chromatographic behavior of polar solutes under HILIC conditions were studied on these zwitterionic phases. Compared to the commercial ZIC-HILIC column and a bare silica gel stationary phase, the newly synthesized zwitterionic stationary phases provided greater retention, higher peak efficiency and better peak symmetry in the HILIC mode. The analytes examined included: β-blockers, nucleic acid bases and nucleosides, salicylic acid and its analogues, and water soluble vitamins. Factors, such as the type of organic modifiers, solvent composition, pH and the buffer concentration of the mobile phase, have been considered as potential variables for controlling the chromatographic retention of polar analytes.     

Study of the selectivity,retention mechanisms and performance of alternative silica-based stationary phases for separation of ionised solutes in hydrophilic interaction chromatography

The separation of a mixture of neutral, strongly acidic and strongly basic compounds was studied in hydrophilic interaction chromatography using a bare silica phase, and bonded silica phases with diol, zwitterionic, amide and hydrophilic/hydrophobic groups. The mobile phase was acetonitrile–ammonium formate buffer at low pH. Differences in selectivity between these various columns indicate that the stationary phase cannot function merely as an inert support for a water layer into which the solutes partition from the bulk mobile phase. Attempts to fit the retention data to equations which describe either partition or adsorption mechanisms were inconclusive. Ion exchange was a significant contributor to the retention of ionised bases on all columns studied. Van Deemter plots indicated that the efficiency as a function of flow rate varied between the columns, which might be attributable in part to the presence of either monomeric or polymeric bonded phase layers.     

The retention behaviour of polar compounds on zirconia based stationary phases under hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography conditions

The most separations in HILIC mode are performed on silica-based supports. Nevertheless, recently published results have indicated that the metal oxides stationary phases also possess the ability to interact with hydrophilic compounds under HILIC conditions. This paper primarily describes the retention behaviour of model hydrophilic analytes (4-aminobenzene sulfonic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid, 3-aminophenol and 3-nitrophenol) on the polybutadine modified zirconia in HILIC. The results were simultaneously compared with a bare zirconia and a silica-based HILIC phase. The mobile phase strength, pH and the column temperature were systematically modified to assess their impact on the retention of model compounds. It was found that the retention of our model hydrophilic analytes on both zirconia phases was mainly governed by adsorption while on the silica-based HILIC phase partitioning was primarily involved. The ability of ligand-exchange interactions of zirconia surface with a carboxylic moiety influenced substantially the response of carboxylic acids on the elevated temperature as well as to the change of the mobile phase pH in contrast to the silica phase. However, no or negligible ligand-exchange interactions were observed for sulfanilic acid. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the ability of modified zirconia phase to retain polar acidic compounds under HILIC conditions, which might substantially enlarge the application area of the zirconia-based stationary phases.     

多羟基化合物键合亲水色谱固定相的制备及其分离性能

用硅胶与氨丙基三甲氧基硅烷反应,再与δ-葡萄糖酸内酯反应,制备了一种多羟基化合物键合的新型亲水色谱固定相。以水-有机溶剂(乙醇、乙腈、四氢呋喃)为流动相,通过改变流动相中有机溶剂的种类及浓度、缓冲盐浓度和柱温,考察了该固定相对6种强极性中药组分的保留行为和保留机理。当水的比例在0～40%(v/v)范围时,溶质的保留随着流动相中水的比例的增大而减小,属于典型的亲水色谱分离模式;而当流动相中水的比例在0～100%(v/v)范围内变化时,溶质的保留随着水的比例变化呈“U”形曲线,属于亲水色谱和反相色谱的混合保留机理。缓冲盐的浓度和pH效应说明,所选用的中药组分与所制备的固定相间还存在弱的静电作用。该固定相对6种中药组分以及丹参注射液具有良好的分离性能,表明其在强极性中药有效成分的分离及其他强极性物质的分离分析中具有一定的应用前景。     

木糖醇和麦芽糖醇型亲水作用色谱固定相的制备及其分离性能的评价

利用-NCO和-OH的加成反应,通过简单的两步反应将木糖醇和麦芽糖醇成功地键合于硅胶表面,制备了两种新型糖醇类亲水作用色谱固定相。流动相中乙腈含量对保留的影响曲线表明,这两种糖醇固定相具有典型的亲水作用色谱固定相性质,对极性和亲水性化合物有很强的保留作用。利用这两种固定相成功分离了水溶性维生素、水杨酸及其类似物、碱基及其相应的核苷和淫羊藿苷类似物等模型混合物,同时糖醇固定相展现了新颖的选择性,特别是相对于线形的木糖醇键合固定相,非线形的麦芽糖醇键合固定相表现出了对糖基的独特保留能力。此外,缓冲盐的pH和浓度对保留的影响表明静电作用在这两种糖醇固定相的保留机理中也发挥着一定的作用。本文所发展的糖醇类固定相具有良好的分离性能,有望在亲水作用色谱分离领域发挥潜在的应用价值。     

Correlation method for comparison of selectivity and retention on different chiral stationary phases

Summary The main chromatographic properties: selectivity and retention of two chiral stationary phases: (R)-3,5-dinitrobenzoylphenylglycine (CSP I) and (S)-3,5-dinitro-benzoylleucine (CSP II) have been compared on the basis of correlation of retention factors of derivatized esters of amino acids and derivatized aminoalcohols. The differences in retention and selectivity for the two CSPs can be easily estimated from the correlation equation. It is shown that in the case of the correlation for two sets of retention factors obtained on two different CSPs, it is mainly the intercept that decides which CSP has the better selectivity. It is demonstrated that the correlation method provides more informations on the selectivity and retention than comparison of the chromatographic data of single pairs of enantiomers. Additionally, the possible influence of the polar modifier mixed with n-hexane as diluent on the constants in the correlation equation is demonstrated.     

Shape selectivity in embedded polar group stationary phases for liquid chromatography

Seven columns with embedded polar functionality were evaluated for use in liquid chromatography with a focus on molecular shape recognition. Tests based on Standard Reference Material 869b Column Selectivity Test Mixture for Liquid Chromatography and the Tanaka test indicate that only two of the phases are slightly shape selective at 20 °C. The shape recognition characteristics of the phases appear to be directly related to the density of the embedded polar ligands and the temperature of the separation, consistent with trends observed with conventional hydrocarbon phases.

Imidazoline type stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography

An imidazoline was prepared by solvent-free microwave-assisted organic synthesis and immobilized on porous silica particles by polymerization. The resulting material was composed of both hydrophobic alkyl ester chains and hydrophilic imidazoline rings, which gave it both hydrophilic interaction and reversed-phase characteristics. The titration curve suggests that the new material has buffering capacity and acquires increasing positive charge over the pH range 9-4, and is "zwitterionic" in the upper part of this pH range. Through investigating the effect of column temperature, the water content, pH and ion strength of mobile phase on the retention time of polar compounds in highly organic eluents, it was found that the new material could be used as a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) stationary phase which involved a complex retention process consisting of partitioning, surface adsorption and electrostatic interactions. In addition, the retention behavior of aromatic compounds in different mobile phase conditions was also studied, which showed the new material mainly exhibited a partitioning mechanism in the reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) mode. The separation of six water-soluble vitamins and five aromatic compounds were achieved by using the new material in the HILIC and RPLC modes, respectively.     

Preparation and comparison of three zwitterionic stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

Surface‐bonded zwitterionic stationary phases have shown highlighted performances in separation of polar and hydrophilic compounds under hydrophilic interaction chromatography mode. So, it would be helpful to evaluate the characteristics of zwitterionic stationary phases with different arranged charged groups. The present work involved the preparation and comparison of three zwitterionic stationary phases. An imidazolium ionic liquid was designed and synthesized, and the cationic and anionic moieties respectively possessed positively charged imidazolium ring and negatively charged sulfonic groups. Then, the prepared ionic liquid, phosphorylcholine and an imidazolium‐based zwitterionic selector were bonded on the surface of silica to obtain three zwitterionic stationary phases. The selectivity properties were characterized and compared through the relative retention of selected solute pairs, and different kinds of hydrophilic solutes mixtures were used to evaluate the chromatographic performances. Moreover, the zwitterionic stationary phases were further characterized by the modified linear solvation energy relationship model to probe the multiple interactions. All the results indicated that the types and arrangement of charged groups in zwitterionic stationary phases mainly affect the retention and separation of ionic or ionizable compounds, and for interaction characteristics the contribution from n and π electrons and electrostatic interactions displayed certain differences.     

糖类化合物亲水作用色谱保留行为评价

以糖类化合物为研究对象,系统评价了其在亲水模式下的色谱保留行为。分别考察了流动相、固定相和缓冲盐等对糖类化合物保留的影响,建立了糖类化合物在亲水模式下的保留方程。结果表明,糖类化合物随着流动相中乙腈比例的降低,保留时间减小;随着缓冲盐浓度的增加,保留时间增加;同时,糖类化合物的保留行为还会受到有机溶剂种类和固定相类型的影响;其保留行为可使用顶替吸附-液相相互作用模型定量描述。将该模型进一步用于实际样品中糖类化合物保留行为的预测,获得了较好的实验结果,预测保留时间与实测保留时间的相对误差小于0.3%。对糖类化合物亲水模式下的保留行为进行了系统的评价和定量描述,该研究结果将有助于糖类化合物亲水作用色谱分离方法的发展。     

Modeling of retention of adrenoreceptor agonists and antagonists on polar stationary phases in hydrophilic interaction chromatography: a review

Retention prediction models for reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) have been extensively studied owing to the fact that RPLC remains the most widely used chromatographic technique especially in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical analyses. However, RPLC is not always the method of choice for the analysis of some compounds that have high polarity. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) has been gaining interest in the last few years as an alternative option to RPLC for the analysis of polar and hydrophilic analytes. HILIC is a variant of normal-phase liquid chromatography, but utilizes water in a water-miscible organic solvent as the eluent in conjunction with a hydrophilic stationary phase. The present review aims to summarize recent contributions on the development of retention prediction models for a group of basic analytes, namely, the adrenoreceptor agonists and antagonists, on different polar stationary phases. The use of multiple linear regression and artificial neural networks in model building is highlighted.     

Covalently bonded polysaccharide-modified stationary phase for per aqueous liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction chromatography

The mixed sulfated/methacryloyl polysaccharide derivative was prepared and successfully immobilized onto the surface of porous silica particles by polymerization. Polysaccharide derivative was calculated as 10.33% in the stationary phase prepared. The new stationary phase (PMSP) showed both hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) and per aqueous liquid chromatography (PALC) characteristics. The effects of column temperature, the water content, pH and ion strength of mobile phase on the retention time of test compounds in highly aqueous eluents were investigated to evaluate the PALC features of PMSP. The column efficiency is about 31,000 plates/m for benzoic acid in water/ACN (97/3, v/v) mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Compared with C18 column, the PMSP had shorter retention time for weak polar and non-polar compounds, but also showed stronger retention for strong polar compounds. It indicated that PALC was a suitable mode of chromatography as replacement of HILIC and complementarity of reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC).     

Investigation of polar stationary phases for the separation of sympathomimetic drugs with nano-liquid chromatography in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode

In this study, the retention and selectivity of a mixture of basic polar drugs were investigated in hydrophilic interaction chromatographic conditions (HILIC) using nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC). Six sympathomimetic drugs including ephedrine, norephedrine, synephrine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and norphenylephrine were separated by changing experimental parameters such as stationary phase, acetonitrile (ACN) content, buffer pH and concentration, column temperature. Four polar stationary phases (i.e. cyano-, diol-, aminopropyl-silica and Luna HILIC, a cross-linked diol phase) were selected and packed into fused silica capillary columns of 100 μm internal diameter (i.d.). Among the four stationary phases investigated a complete separation of the all studied compounds was achieved with aminopropyl silica and Luna HILIC stationary phases only. Best chromatographic results were obtained employing a mobile phase composed by ACN/water (92/8, v/v) containing 10 mM ammonium formate buffer pH 3. The influence of the capillary temperature on the resolution of the polar basic drugs was investigated in the range between 10 and 50 °C. Linear correlation of ln k vs. 1/T was observed for all the columns; ΔH° values were negative with Luna HILIC and positive with aminopropyl- and diol-silica stationary phases, demonstrating that different mechanisms were involved in the separation.To compare the chromatographic performance of the different columns, Van Deemter curves were also investigated.     

Underivatized amylose and cellulose as new stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction chromatography

Two polysaccharide stationary phases have been newly suggested for application in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Both columns (amylose‐silica, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm and cellulose‐silica, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) demonstrated a satisfactory retention of polar compounds. The influence of the mobile‐phase composition (acetonitrile content, pH, salt concentration) on the retention was in agreement with the HILIC concept. The phases showed a very similar behavior, typical efficiency of about 50 000 plates/m, cellulose retained test compounds somewhat more strongly. Under the experimental conditions, electrostatic (non‐HILIC‐type) interactions due to the dissociation of silanol groups on the silica surface did not influence the retention, noticeably. The applicability of polysaccharide stationary phases for the chromatography of polar compounds was proven by the separation of mixtures of sugars (fructose, glucose, saccharose, maltose, trehalose) or vitamins (nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinic acid, ascorbic acid).     

磺酸甜菜碱型两性离子亲水作用色谱固定相的制备及色谱性能评价

以丙烯酸二甲氨基乙酯(DMAEA)和1,3-丙磺酸内酯为原料,合成了含磺酸甜菜碱型两性离子的N,N-二甲基-N-丙烯酰氧乙基-N-丙基磺酸铵(DMAEAPS)功能单体,通过原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)技术将其接枝到硅胶表面,制备了磺酸甜菜碱型两性离子色谱固定相(Sil-DMAEAPS)。研究了该固定相对安息香、维生素B6、芸香叶苷、对香豆酸和咖啡酸5种极性溶质的亲水作用色谱分离性能。结果表明,在典型的亲水作用色谱条件下,极性溶质的保留主要由静电作用和亲水作用控制;而在典型的反相色谱条件下,极性溶质则表现出反相柱的分离特征。与ZIC-HILIC商品柱进行对比,自制色谱柱对5种极性溶质表现出不同的分离选择性。将自制色谱柱用于芦丁片中芸香叶苷含量的测定,操作方法简单,为极性样品的分离提供了新方法。     

Dicyanobiphenyl polysioloxane stationary phases for capillary column gas chromatography

Summary The chromatographic performance of newly developed dicyanobiphenyl polysiloxane stationary phases were evaluated and compared with the performance of other polar stationary phases, including the previously reported monocyanobiphenyl polysiloxanes. Due to the unique combination of polarizable biphenyl and polar cyano functionalities in the side chains of the flexible polysiloxane backbone, and by virtue of their mild liquid crystalline properties, the new stationary phases provide excellent resolution of a wide variety of analytes, both polar and nonpolar, in both GC and SFC. They can be easily coated and cross-linked in open tubular columns, and the resultant columns demonstrate excellent efficiency and performance at temperatures up to 280–300°C. The new stationary phases exhibit enhanced selectivities for various types of isomeric compounds.     

How to separate ionic liquids: use of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and mixed mode phases

This chromatographic study deals with the development of a convenient and versatile method to separate Room Temperature Ionic Liquids. Different modes of chromatography were studied. The study attempts to answer the following question: “what were the most important interactions for the separation of ionic liquids?”. The results show that the essential interactions to assure a good retention of RTILs are the ionic ones and that hydrophobic interactions play a role in the selectivity of the separation. The separation of five imidazolium salt with a traditional diol columns in Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography (HILIC) was demonstrated. It shows that neutral diol grafted column allows an important retention that we assume is due to the capability of diol to develop a thick layer of water. Furthermore, stationary phase based on mixed interaction associating ion exchange and hydrophobic properties were studied. Firstly, it will be argued that it is possible to separate RTILs with a convenient retention and resolution according to a reverse phase elution with the Primesep columns made of a brush type long alkyl chain with an embedded negatively charged functional group. Secondly, a sucessful separation of RTILs in HILIC mode with a mixed phase column containing a cationic exchanger and a hydrophobic octyl chain length will be demonstrated.