Preparation and application of Au nanoparticles-decorated SO3H-cofunctionalized silica stationary phase for per aqueous liquid chromatography

Abstract

Au nanoparticles (Au NPs)-decorated SO3H-cofunctionalized porous silica particles was prepared as a novel mixed-mode stationary phase and used in Per aqueous liquid chromatography (PALC) mode. The obtained stationary phase was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectra, and transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the retention behavior, the effect of a variety of chromatographic factors on the retention of different types of solutes was investigated. The obtained column exhibited a hydrophobic interaction/cation-exchange mixed-mode retention mechanism, and a typical PALC characteristic was observed in water-rich mobile phases. When the particle size of Au NPs was 10–20 nm, the analytes had a sharp peak shape and the column pressure was also moderate. Compared with the hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and C18 column, some hydrophilic compounds such as six monosaccharides were baseline separated with the enhanced resolution of the obtained column under the PALC mode. Moreover, the efficiency of the Au-S/SO3H-SiO2-2 column was significantly higher than that of the HILIC column. PALC mode was a green annlysis method and suitable for the replacement of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography.