An HPLC chromatographic framework to analyze the β-cyclodextrin/solute complexation mechanism using a carbon nanotube stationary phase

Abstract

A carbon nanotube (CNT) stationary phase was used for the first time to study the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) solute complexation mechanism using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For this, the β-CD was added at various concentrations in the mobile phase and the effect of column temperature was studied on both the retention of a series of aniline and benzoic acid derivatives with the CNT stationary phase and their complexation mechanism with β-CD. A decrease in the solute retention factor was observed for all the studied molecules without change in the retention order. The apparent formation constant KF of the inclusion complex β-CD/solute was determined at various temperatures. Our results showed that the interaction of β-CD with both the mobile phase and the stationary phase interfered in the complex formation. The enthalpy and entropy of the complex formation (ΔHF and ΔSF) between the solute molecule and CD were determined using a thermodynamic approach. Negative enthalpies and entropies indicated that the inclusion process of the studied molecule in the CD cavity was enthalpically driven and that the hydrogen bonds between carboxylic or aniline groups and the functional groups on the β-CD rim play an important role in the complex formation.