Capillary electrochromatography with polyacrylamide monolithic stationary phases having bonded dodecyl ligands and sulfonic acid groups: evaluation of column performance with alkyl phenyl ketones and neutral moderately polar pesticides

In this report, we describe the preparation of porous polyacrylamide-based monolithic columns via vinyl polymerization. These monoliths possess in their structures bonded dodecyl ligands and sulfonic acid groups. While the sulfonic acid groups are meant to support the electroosmotic flow (EOF) necessary for moving the mobile phase through the monolithic capillary, the dodecyl ligands are introduced to provide the nonpolar sites for chromatographic retention. However, incorporating the sulfonic acid groups in the monoliths does not only support the EOF but also exhibit hydrophilic interaction with moderately polar compounds such as urea herbicides and carbamates insecticides. Consequently, mixed-mode (reversed-phase/normal phase) retention behavior is observed with neutral and moderately polar pesticides. The amount of sulfonic acid group in the monolith can be conveniently adjusted by changing the amount of vinylsulfonic acid added to the polymerization reaction. Optimum EOF velocity and adequate chromatographic retention are obtained when 15% vinylsulfonic acid is added to the reaction mixture. Under these conditions, rapid separation and high plate counts reaching greater than 400000 plates/m are readily obtained.