Buffer Choice for Tuning the Selectivity in Reverse Phase Chromatography

Abstract

Retention behaviour of ionogenic species in high-performance liquid chromatography on reversed phase materials was studied, specifically dependence of buffer quality applied to mobile phases. The buffers' effect on retention of organic acids, amino acids and dipeptides is quantified by modelling capacity factors as a function of pH-values. At constant ionic strength, increasing capacity factors were observed going from phosphate to less polar citrate buffer, modification of accessible silanol groups of the stationary phase being responsible for this effect. Application of citrate buffer for separation of a seven-component mixture is demonstrated on the basis of a computerized search for optimum chromatographic performance. The evaluated factor levels (pH, methanol content and ionic strength) differ from those found using phosphate buffer-containing mobile phases.