A Comparison of Radially-Compressed and Stainless Steel Columns for the Reversed-Phase Ion-Pair Separation of Phencyclidine Synthetic Mixtures

Abstract

The reversed-phase ion-pair HPLC separation of phencyclidine synthetic mixtures was optimized utilizing Radial-Pak radially compressed columns. Variables examined in the optimization included column type (C-18, C-8, or CN), pairing ion (methane-, pentane-, hexane-, or octane sulfonates) and mobile phase composition (varying concentrations of methanol or acetonitrile in water). The chromatographic behavior of the phencyclidine mixtures in the various systems utilizing radially compressed columns is compared and contrasted to a similar previous study which examined similar variables on stainless steel columns. The optimum system for radially compressed columns was found to consist of a Radial-Pak C-18 column and a mobile phase of 85:15 MeOH:H₂O, 2.5% acetic acid, 1% triethylamine and 5mM sodium hexane sulfonate.