Evaluation of Mobile and Stationary Phases in Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography of Conjugated Bile Acids

Abstract

The reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the ten major conjugated bile acids of man using isocratic conditions is described. Each component of the mobile and stationary phases was examined for its ability to influence the separation selectivity. Manipulation of pH, buffer species, organic modifier and different types of packings showed that optimal resolution was obtained with a mobile phase of methanol-0.02M sodium acetate (60:30) adjusted to pH 4.2 with phosphoric acid, on a Supelcosil LC-18-DB column. Advantages of the optimized phase system are the complete baseline separation of compounds within a short period of time, improved peak symmetry and a high rate of reproducibility. This new chromatographic method, coupled with UV detection at 205 nm, is suitable for the simultaneous determination of bile acid conjugates in routine clinical analysis.