Modeling the velocity field of the electroosmotic flow in charged capillaries and in capillary columns packed with charged particles: interstitial and intraparticle velocities in capillary electrochromatography systems

Mass transfer systems based on electrokinetic phenomena (i.e., capillary electrochromatography (CEC)) have shown practical potential in becoming powerful separation methods for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. A mathematical model has been constructed and solved to describe quantitatively the profiles of the electrostatic potential, pressure, and velocity of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) in charged cylindrical capillaries and in capillary columns packed with charged particles. The results obtained from model simulations (i) provide significant physical insight and understanding with regard to the velocity profile of the EOF in capillary columns packed with charged porous particles which represent systems employed in CEC, (ii) provide the physical explanation for the experimental results which indicate that the velocity of the EOF in capillary columns packed with charged porous particles is a very weak function (it is almost independent) of the diameter of the particles, and (iii) indicate that the intraparticle velocity, nu(p,i), of the EOF can be greater than zero. The intraparticle Peclet number, Pe(int rap), for lysozyme was found to be greater than unity and this intraparticle convective mass transfer mechanism could contribute significantly, if the appropriate chemistry is employed in the mobile liquid phase and in the charged porous particles, in (a) decreasing the intraparticle mass transfer resistance, (b) decreasing the dispersive mass transfer effects, and (c) increasing the intraparticle mass transfer rates so that high column efficiency and resolution can be obtained. Furthermore, the results from model simulations indicate that for a given operationally permissible value of the applied electric potential difference per unit length, Ex, high values for the average velocity of the EOF can be obtained if (1) the zeta potential, zeta(p), at the surface of the particles packed in the column has a large negative magnitude, (2) the value of the viscosity, mu, of the mobile liquid phase is low, (3) the magnitude of the dielectric constant, epsilon, of the mobile liquid phase is reasonably large, and (4) the combination of the values of the concentration, C(infinity), of the electrolyte and of the dielectric constant, epsilon, provide a thin double layer. The theoretical results for the velocity of the EOF obtained from the solution of the model presented in this work were compared with the experimental values of the velocity of the EOF obtained from a fused-silica column packed with charged porous silica C8 particles. Systems with four different particle diameters and three different concentrations of the electrolyte were considered, and the magnitude of the electric field was varied widely. The agreement between theory and experiment was found to be good.     

Linear voltage profiles and flow homogeneity in pressurized planar electrochromatography

Planar electrochromatography (PEC) is an emerging technique for thin-layer chromatography (TLC) where electroosmosis is the driving force for the solvent, not capillary action. This allows for much faster and constant flow rates in turn yielding increased zone capacities and efficiencies. Instrumental designs have changed greatly over the last few years solving many of the initial instrumentation challenges. We have previously shown that low applied pressure (or no applied pressure) PEC instruments do not give linear voltage drops across the separation path length of a TLC plate, which in turn results in non-stable electroosmotic flow (EOF). By the use of our unique reader electrode grid we have the ability to monitor the potential at eight discrete positions throughout the 10-cm separation path length. We now show that high-pressure PEC instruments, most commonly referred to as pressurized planar electrochromatography (PPEC) do show a linear voltage drop and constant EOF. We compare plate equilibration times of PPEC and low-pressure PEC, use of increased field strengths, as well as sample application designs. In addition, we discuss the use of rhodamine B as a visual marker for reproducible migration and calculation of theoretical plates.     

Capillary electrochromatography using a fluoropolymer as the chromatographic support material

Fused-silica capillary columns were packed with ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) particles for use in capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Electroosmotic flow (EOF) was generated in these columns using acetonitrile-water mixtures as the mobile phase. Electroosmotic mobilities of 1.6 x 10(-4) cm2 V(-1) s(-1) (linear velocities of 1 mm s(-1)) were observed using a mobile phase without an electrolyte present. The EOF in the ECTFE-packed columns is enhanced when using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a mobile phase additive; electroosmotic mobilities of 3.65 x 10(-4) cm2 (V-1) s(-1) (linear velocity of 2.5 mm s(-1)) were observed. This enhancement of EOF is attributed to dynamic coating of the ECTFE particles by TFA. Other electrolytes (i.e., Tris/Tris-HCl buffer and H3PO4) in the mobile phase did not have such an enhancement of EOF. However, a slight enhancement of EOF is observed, for example, if small quantities of TFA are added to the mobile phase containing Tris buffer. The potential of ECTFE for CEC is demonstrated by separating a mixture of amino acids.     

Pressurized planar electrochromatography

Theoretical backgrounds, development, examples of separations, constructional details and principle of action of devices of pressurized planar electrochromatography (PPEC) are presented. Development of the mode is described in respect of operating variables (composition of the mobile phase, pressure exerted on adsorbent layer, mobile phase flow velocity, temperature of separating system, etc.) influencing separation efficiency (kinetic performance, repeatability, separation time). Advantages of PPEC such as high kinetic performance, short separation time and different separation selectivities, especially relative to conventional thin-layer chromatography, are described. Examples of two-dimensional separations are demonstrated to show high separation potential of the mode when combined with conventional thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The PPEC mode is in infancy stage of development, so its challenges are presented as well.     

Neutral polar methacrylate‐based monoliths for normal phase nano‐LC and CEC of polar species including N‐glycans

Neutral diol methacrylate‐based monoliths were developed for normal phase chromatography (NPC) and NP‐CEC of polar compounds including N‐glycans. Four different diol methacrylate‐based monoliths were synthesized via the copolymerization of a functional monomer using either glyceryl monomethacrylate (GMM) or glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and a crosslinker either ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) or trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM). While the GMM‐based monoliths yield in one reaction step polar diol methacrylate monoliths that are ready for use in NPC or NP‐CEC, the GMA‐based monoliths required a postmodification with hot sulfuric acid to convert the epoxy functions into diols before use in NPC or NP‐CEC. All the four monoliths are neutral and void of fixed charges on their surfaces but yet exhibited relatively strong EOF in NP‐CEC. The EOF is attributed to the adsorption of ions from the mobile phase thus forming the electric double layer necessary for producing a bulk mobile phase flow. Under the same in situ copolymerization conditions of GMM or GMA with either EDMA or TRIM, the GMM–EDMA monolith was the best choice in terms of retention, separation efficiency, EOF velocity in CEC and linear flow velocity in Nano‐LC.     

Preparation and evaluation of a neutral methacrylate-based monolithic column for hydrophilic interaction stationary phase by pressurized capillary electrochromatography

A polar and neutral polymethacrylate-based monolithic column was evaluated as a hydrophilic interaction capillary electrochromatography (HI-CEC) stationary phase with small polar–neutral or charged solutes. The polar sites on the surface of the monolithic solid phase responsible for hydrophilic interactions were provided from the hydroxy and ester groups on the surface of the monolithic stationary phase. These polar functionalities also attract ions from the mobile phase and impart the monolithic solid phase with a given zeta potential to generate electro-osmotic flow (EOF). The monolith was prepared by in situ copolymerization of a neutral monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and a polar cross-linker with hydroxy group, pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), in the presence of a binary porogenic solvent consisting cyclohexanol and dodecanol. A typical HI-CEC mechanism was observed on the neutral polar stationary phase for both neutral and charged analytes. The composition of the polymerization mixture was systematically altered and optimized by altering the amount of HEMA in the polymerization solution as well as the composition of the porogenic solvent. The monoliths were tested in the pCEC mode. The resulting monoliths had different characteristics of hydrophilicity, column permeability, and efficiency. The effects of pH, salt concentration, and organic solvent content on the EOF velocity and the separation of nucleic acids and nucleosides on the optimized monolithic column were investigated. The optimized monolithic column resulted in good separation and with greater than 140,000 theoretical plates/m for pCEC.     

Generation of directional EOF by interactive oscillatory zeta potential

A steady directional EOF due to a nonlinear interaction between oscillatory axial electrical fields and oscillatory wall potentials (zeta potentials) is presented. This is a new mechanism to produce such a mean flow. It is found that the flow velocity depends not on the external driving frequency but on the phase angle difference between the electric fields and the zeta potentials. The formulation can also be reduced to the static EOF straightforwardly. For the purpose of theoretical demonstration, we use the Debye-Huckel approximation for the zeta potential. Results of planar and cylindrical capillaries are given.     

Pressurized planar electrochromatography,high-performance thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography—Comparison of performance

Kinetic performance, measured by plate height, of High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Pressurized Planar Electrochromatography (PPEC) was compared for the systems with adsorbent of the HPTLC RP18W plate from Merck as the stationary phase and the mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and buffer solution. The HPLC column was packed with the adsorbent, which was scrapped from the chromatographic plate mentioned. An additional HPLC column was also packed with adsorbent of 5 μm particle diameter, C18 type silica based (LiChrosorb RP-18 from Merck). The dependence of plate height of both HPLC and PPEC separating systems on flow velocity of the mobile phase and on migration distance of the mobile phase in TLC system was presented applying test solute (prednisolone succinate). The highest performance, amongst systems investigated, was obtained for the PPEC system. The separation efficiency of the systems investigated in the paper was additionally confirmed by the separation of test component mixture composed of six hormones.     

Poly(carboxyethyl acrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) precursor monolith with bonded octadecyl ligands for use in reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

A carboxy precursor monolithic column, namely poly(carboxy ethyl acrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) was first produced in a 100 μm i.d. fused-silica capillary and subsequently surface bonded with n-octadecyl (C₁₈) ligands by a post-polymerization functionalization process with octadecylamine in the presence of N,N´-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The bonding of octadecyl ligands was achieved via an amide linkage between the carboxy functions of the precursor monolith and the amino group of the octadecylamine compound. The resulting C₁₈ monolith exhibited a very low electroosmotic flow (EOF), a fact that required the incorporation of small amounts of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) in the polymerization solution to produce a precursor monolith with fixed negative charges of sulfonate groups. This may indicate that the conjugation of the carboxy functions with octadecylamine occurred to a large extent so that the amount of residual carboxy functions was sparsely dispersed and not enough to produce a desirable EOF. The EOF velocity of the C₁₈ column having fixed negative charges provided by the incorporated AMPS increased with increasing ACN content of the mobile phase signaling an increased binding of mobile phase ions to the polar amide linkages near the monolithic surface, and a decreased viscosity of the mobile phase, both of which would result in increased EOF velocity. The C₁₈ monolithic column constituted a novel nonpolar sorbent for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography for nonpolar solutes, e.g., alkylbenzenes, alkylphenyl ketones, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and slightly polar compounds including phenol and chlorophenols. The C₁₈ monolithic column exhibited relatively high selectivity toward chlorophenols differing by one chloro substituent.     

Separation of four mixtures of pesticides by pressurized planar electrochromatography (PPEC)

Examples of separations of four mixtures of pesticides by pressurized planar electrochromatography (PPEC) under different operating conditions are presented. The samples were separated on a prewetted RP-18W chromatographic plate in a system with acetonitrile-buffer as the mobile phase. A potential of 2.3 kV was applied to a 10 cm long plate to create the electric field. Reproducible retention of pesticides was obtained during PPEC in the closed system when the sorbent layer of the plate was prewetted and equilibrated with the mobile phase. The reported separations of pesticides by PPEC are over 10 times faster than the corresponding separations by TLC.     

Thermophysical properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimеthylacetamide mixtures with <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butanol

The refraction, dielectric, viscosity, density, data of the binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) with n-butanol at 308.15 and 313.15 K. The measured parameters used to obtain derived properties like Bruggeman factor, molar refraction and excess static dielectric constant, excess inverse relaxation time, excess molar volume and excess viscosity, excess molar refraction. The variation in magnitude with composition and temperature of these quantities has been used to discuss the type, strength and nature of binary interactions. Results confirm that there are strong hydrogen-bond interactions between unlike molecules of DMA+ n-butanol mixtures and that 1: 1 complexes are formed and strength of intermolecular interaction increases with temperature.     

Electrokinetic diffusioosmotic flow of Ostwald-de Waele fluids near a charged flat plate in the thin double layer limit

Electrokinetic diffusioosmotic flow of Ostwald-de Waele, or power-law, fluids near a large charged flat plate is theoretically investigated for very thin double layers. Solutions to the flow velocity both up-close and far from the flat plate as well as the effective viscosity are presented for general values of the flow behavior index. Results show that given a wall zeta potential, ζ, diffusivity difference parameter, β, and constant imposed solute concentration gradient, both the near and far field diffusioosmotic flow velocities obtained for the respective dilatant and pseudoplastic liquids considerably deviate from those obtained for Newtonian liquids as found in previous literature. This likely suggests that the electrokinetic diffusioosmosis and its complementary effect of diffusiophoresis depend sensitively not only on the ζ-β parametric pair, but also on the possible non-Newtonian characteristics of the electrolytic liquid phase of the system. The theory presented herein can also be readily modified to model or describe electrodiffusioosmosis in power-law fluids, which is likely found in flow situations where the fluid non-Newtonian response, imposed solute concentration gradient, and an additional externally applied electric current density (or electric field) are of equal importance.     

The effect of the temperature dependence of mobile phase viscosity on the retention time in series-coupled gas chromatographic columns

A previously established model of a system of series-coupled columns, incorporating the effects of temperature and mobile phase compressibility, is generalized to take the temperature dependence of the mobile phase viscosity coefficient into account. Expressions are reported for the linear flow velocity, the effective partition coefficient, and the retention time for both the case of constant mass flow rate and that of constant overall pressure drop. Numerical results indicate that the temperature dependence of the viscosity coefficient affects the retention time and pressure drop while the effective mass distribution coefficient remains essentially unchanged.     

Surfactant-induced electroosmotic flow in microfluidic capillaries

Control of EOF in microfluidic devices is essential in applications such as protein/DNA sizing and high‐throughput drug screening. With the growing popularity of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the substrate for polymeric‐based microfludics, it is important to understand the effect of surfactants on EOF in these devices. In this article, we present an extensive investigation exploring changes in EOF rate induced by SDS, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij35) and CTAB in PMMA microfluidic capillaries. In a standard protein buffer (Tris‐Glycine), PMMA capillaries exhibited a cathodic EOF with measured mobility of 1.54 ± 0.1 (× 10^?4 cm²/V.s). In the presence of surfactant below a critical concentration, EOF was independent of surfactant concentration. At high concentrations of surfactants, the electroosmotic mobility was found to linearly increase/decrease as the logarithm of concentration before reaching a constant value. With SDS, the EOF increased by 257% (compared to buffer), while it was decreased by 238% with CTAB. In the case of Brij35, the electroosmotic mobility was reduced by 70%. In a binary surfactant system of SDS/CTAB and SDS/Brij35, addition of oppositely charged CTAB reduced the SDS‐induced EOF more effectively compared to nonionic Brij35. We propose possible mechanisms that explain the observed changes in EOF and zeta potential values. Use of neutral polymer coatings in combination with SDS resulted in 50% reduction in the electroosmotic mobility with 0.1% hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), while including 2% poly (N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) had no effect. These results will potentially contribute to the development of PMMA‐based microfluidic devices.     

Metallomesogenic stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography

A synthetic coppermesogenic polymer is prepared and then covalently bonded to the siloxane-based deactivated column as the stationary phases of open-tubular CEC with essentially high phase ratio. The EOF generated from the modified phase is surveyed through conventional aqueous buffers and hydroorganic mobile phases. Zeta potentials, which are computed from the EOF data and the ratio of dielectric constant to viscosity, are plotted as a function of pH, ionic molarity, and compositional range. These plots responsible for the electroosmotic characteristic of the bonded phases are found to be like those of bare fused-silica or deactivated columns through decreasing or increasing the ACN content in the mobile phase, respectively. This two-phase characteristic is basically derived from the polymeric configuration with carboxylato ligands attached onto the polysiloxane backbone. Phthalates and amino acids are suitable probes to examine the two phenomena, more-polar and less-polar mediums, respectively, and to judge whether the chromatographic retention is the major source of separation mechanism. With the mixing modes of Lewis acid-base interaction, dispersive force, and shape discrimination, the chromatographic partition adequately accomplishes the uneasily resolved separations by only CZE mode, although the electrophoretic migration is truly somewhat involved.