Micelles as pseudo-stationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

This review article describes some general comments on micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) from the viewpoint of pseudo-stationary phases and presents a compiled list of surfactants used for MEKC, prepared from published papers. We tried to give comments on some typical surfactants from the practical point of view.     

Application of particles as pseudo-stationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography

Since the introduction of micelles by Terabe et al. (1984), many different species have been employed as carriers for electrokinetic chromatography. As it is not possible to separate uncharged solutes or ions with equal mobility in capillary electrophoresis, these phases are added to introduce or improve selectivity.

This review surveys the application of particles as pseudo-stationary phases. Up to now only very few applications exist based either on polymer particles for the separation of catechols and primary amines or silica-based material. With these particles separations are shown for phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthalene derivatives. The characteristic properties of particles as pseudo-stationary phases and their benefits as well as their limitations are discussed.     

Preparation and properties of sclerotium rolfsii invertase immobilized on indion 48-R

Crude extracellular invertase fromSclerotium rolfsii, when coupled to glutaraldehyde activated Indion 48-R, retained 70–80% activity of the soluble enzyme. Immobilization resulted in a decrease in the pH and temperature optima but it increased the temperature stability. K_m and V_max also increased as a result of immobilization. Both soluble and immobilized invertase showed inhibition at high substrate concentrations. The bound enzyme showed excellent stability to repeated use and retained approx 90% of its initial activity after 8 cycles of use.     

New dynamic axial compression columns with means for monitoring floating adapter position. Column design and utilisation in low pressure LC on soft packings

Summary The design of new dynamic, axial-compression columns with a system for continous packed bed adjustment and monitoring of the floating adapter position is described. The columns are meant for liquid chromatography at low pressures (up to 8 bar) in aqueous and organic media with stationary phases of all types. The columns have adapter position pickups for continuous automatic monitoring of the bed height (original “swellographic” monitoring). The column described with gas pressurisation was tested with soft Sephadex G-10 and G-25. In spite of the reduction in external porosity there was no dramatic increase in back-pressure. The column proved to provide long-term stability of the packed bed and improvement in resolution. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

Optimisation of chiral separation of omeprazole and one of its metabolites on immobilized α1-acid glycoprotein using chemometricsglycoprotein using chemometrics

Summary A strategy for the optimisation of direct chiral separation of omeprazole and a metabolite, hydroxi-omeprazole, in reversed phase liquid chromatography is described. A factorial design was used, where mobile phase pH, concentration of a mobile phase modifier, ionic strength and column temperature were tested as the variables and enantioselective retention, column efficiency and asymmetry factor as the responses. The experimental results were evaluated with multivariate analyses, which demonstrated that the column temperature and content of mobile phase acetonitrile were by far the most important variables. The enantiomers of omeprazole and one of its metabolites were baseline resolved within 15 minutes. The optimised chromatographic system was used for a separation of the enantiomers of omeprazole and its main metabolite in a patient plasma sample.     

The development of microparticulate cellulose-based packing materials and evaluation of potential use in capillary electrochromatography

Summary Expanding the range of stationary phases employed in capillary electrochromatography, the development of rigid cellulose-based micro-beads, their physical-chemical modification and their use in capillary electrochromatography are described. Cellulose-based stationary phases have been employed in the normal-phase and the reversed-phase modes. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

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.     

Study of solid state reactions in Nb/Al multilayer thin films

Solid state reactions of sputter-deposited Nb/Al multilayer thin films, with periodicities in the range 10–333 nm, have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The first phase to form upon annealing the films in NbAl₃. Constant-heating-rate calorimetric measurements show the presence of two peaks for the formation of this phase, while isothermal scans reveal that the first peak is associated with a nucleation and growth type transformation. The formation of NbAl₃ is thus interpreted as a two-stage process of nucleation and growth to coalescence (first peak) followed by growth until the consumption of one or both reactants (second peak).We thank NSF for support through DMR-9308651, K. Coffey, S. Vivekanand and B. Gadicharla for assistance and TA Instruments for the donation of a 1600°C furnace.