Formic acid modified carbon dioxide as a mobile phase in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

Abstract

AbstractA small percentage (0.3% w/w) of formic acid was added to supercritical carbon dioxide to increase mobile phase polarity and improve separation of polar solutes on three different commercially available capillary columns. Formic acid reduced retention and altered selectivity for several polar compounds. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the enthalpy of solvation was as much as 27 kcal mol−1 more negative when formic acid was added due to increased solute‐solvent interactions. Entropy measurements show that formic acid modified mobile phase is more ordered than a pure carbon dioxide mobile phase, apparently as a result of modifier clustering around polar solutes. Van't Hoff plots for some very polar solutes showed a region of retrograde behavior at low temperatures and pressures, indicating an increase in modifier clustering. Comparisons between pure and modified mobile phases were also made by examining practical separations obtained with each, revealing differences in retention, selectivity and peak shape.