Range Of Mobile Phase Compositions Research Articles

Silica-Based Stationary Phase with Surface Bound N-Acetyl-glucosamine for Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography.

A hydrophilic silica-based stationary phase with surface bound N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc-silica) was prepared in house and characterized physically via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and chromatographically over a wide range of mobile phase compositions. While both FTIR and TGA confirmed the attachment of the GlcNAc ligands to the silica surface, the chromatographic evaluation of GlcNAc-silica with polar and slightly polar standard solutes (e.g., sugars, nucleic acid fragments, phenolic, and benzoic acid derivatives) yielded the typical hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) behaviors in the sense that retention increased with increases in solute polarity and the organic content (i.e., acetonitrile) of the hydro-organic mobile phase (i.e., ACN-rich mobile phase). Sugars derivatized with 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) and 2-aminoanthrcene (2-AA) such as xylose, glucose, and short chains maltooligosaccharides constituted the most polar species for HILIC retention evaluation, and in addition, the maltooligosaccharides offered a polar homologous series for gauging the hydrophilicity of GlcNAc-silica in analogy with alkylbenzene homologous series and other nonpolar homologues for evaluating the hydrophobicity of non-polar stationary phases. On the other hand, the benzoic acid and phenolic acid derivatives were the probe solutes for evaluating the HILIC retention dependence of ionizable solutes on the pH of the mobile phase. Similarly, the nucleobase and nucleoside weak basic solutes as well as some typical cyclic nucleotide acidic solutes allowed for the examination of the dependence of solute retention on the pH of the mobile as well as the polarity of the species.

Diffusion coefficients of an extensive set of pharmaceutical compounds in supercritical fluid chromatography over a wide range of mobile phase compositions

Diffusion data are essential for adequate analysis of the kinetic separation performance of any chromatographic system. Unfortunately, for Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC), very little data is available of the diffusion coefficients in mobile phases typically used in contemporary methods, i.e. with a non-negligible amount of polar modifier such as methanol. In this work, a relative simple method which only requires minor modifications to a standard commercially available SFC instrument is used to determine the diffusion coefficient of an extensive set of pharmaceutical compounds in the range of 10–50 vol% of modifier (methanol) in CO2. By using a traditional SFC column, the solute is first separated from the sample solvent plug, before entering a long capillary, where the band broadening can be linked to its diffusion coefficient using the Taylor-Aris equation. By using two UV-detectors, before and after the capillary, the effect of the dispersion in the column can be eliminated and the true volumetric flow rate determined. It was found that in the investigated range of conditions, the change in mobile phase viscosity in a first approximation allows to predict the variation in diffusion coefficient. Chemical structure and more particularly functional groups can however have a significant effect on the diffusion coefficient.

Polymethacrylate-based monolithic column with incorporated carbamide-modified fumed silica nanoparticles for hydrophilic liquid interaction chromatography

In this proof-of-concept study, new monolithic columns were prepared by incorporating fumed silica nanoparticles (FNSPs) that are surface functionalized by covalent attachment of 1-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]urea moieties (i.e., carbamide-FSNPs). The prepared monolithic columns were successfully utilized in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) of small, relatively polar solutes. The organic polymer monolithic matrix was based on the in situ polymerization of glyceryl monomethacrylate (GMM) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) yielding the poly(GMM-co-EDMA) monolith for the incorporation of carbamide-FSNPs. The poly(GMM-co-EDMA) monolithic column with incorporated carbamide-FSNPs which is referred to as carbamide-FSNPs-poly(GMM-co-EDMA) was investigated over a wide range of mobile phase compositions with polar acidic, weakly basic and neutral analytes including organic acids, food additives, vitamins, biological amines, nucleosides, nucleobases, dimethylformamide, formamide and thiourea. Improved peak shapes and better separations were achieved when anisocratic (i.e., gradient) elution conditions were used for the separation of nucleobases, nucleosides and vitamins. The run-to-run, day-to-day and column-to-column reproducibilities were satisfactory.

Analysis of flavonoids with unified chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry-method development and application to compounds of pharmaceutical and cosmetic interest.

In this project, we aimed at analysing flavonoid-type compounds with unified chromatography (joining supercritical fluid chromatography and enhanced fluidity liquid chromatography with carbon dioxide-methanol mobile phases covering a wide range of compositions) and diode-array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (UC-DAD-ESI-MS). First, the chromatographic method was developed for 9 standard flavonoid molecules from three different families (flavanols, flavanones and flavonols, glycosylated or not), with a strong focus on mobile phase composition to achieve the elution of a wide range of flavonoids with good chromatographic quality (efficiency and resolution). For this purpose, two stationary phases were selected (ACQUITY UPC2 DEA and Diol), and five different additives (formic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid and ammonium hydroxide) were successively introduced in the methanol co-solvent. The composition containing 0.1% methanesulfonic acid in methanol was retained as it provided the best chromatographic quality together with the possibility of hyphenating the chromatography to mass spectrometry. The DEA column appeared to provide the best efficiency and was retained for further method development. The gradient method was then optimized to achieve a fast analysis, which involved elution with a wide range of mobile phase composition (from 20 to 100% co-solvent in methanol) together with reversed flow rate and reversed pressure gradients at fixed temperature. The final gradient lasted 10min, followed by 2.5min of re-equilibration. Then, ESI-MS detection was optimized. Because the single-quadrupole mass spectrometer employed (ACQUITY UPC2 QDa) allowed the variation of only a few parameters, a design of experiments was used to define the best compromise for three parameters (probe temperature, cone voltage and capillary voltage). The make-up fluid introduced before entering the MS was also varied: different compositions of methanol-water containing either formic acid, ammonium hydroxide or sodium chloride were tested. The best results in terms of signal-to-noise ratio were obtained with methanol containing 20mM ammonium hydroxide and 2% water. The optimal UC-DAD-ESI-MS method was then applied to two different flavonoid formulation ingredients. The first one, hidrosmin (5-O-(β-hydroxyethyl)diosmin), is known for its vasoprotective properties and therefore employed in pharmaceutical formulations. The second one, α-glucosyl-hesperidin (sometimes referred to as vitamin P), is employed in cosmetic formulations. Identification of the major compounds in each sample was achieved with the help of MS detection. Graphical abstract.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography system constant database over an extended mobile phase composition range for 25 siloxane-bonded silica-based columns

The solvation parameter model is used to characterize the retention properties of 25 siloxane-bonded type-B silica columns under typical reversed-phase liquid chromatography conditions with binary aqueous mobile phases containing 10–70% (v/v) methanol and acetonitrile. To further explore the affect of solvent type on column selectivity complementary information is presented for aqueous phases containing 10–70% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran for two columns. Columns were selected to include examples of all common column packing morphologies for small molecule separations (totally porous particles, superficially porous particles, organic–inorganic hybrid particles, and a monolith) and common topologies octadecylsiloxane-bonded (including phases with a polar-embedded group, mixed-mode phases with a short-chain siloxane-bonded polar functional group, sterically crowded, positive shield, and fluorine-containing phases); octylsiloxane-bonded; and various phenyl-containing stationary phases with different linker arms, pentafluorophenylalkyl and biphenyl groups. The column properties are reported as a system constant database and as system maps for the full range of mobile phase compositions. Selectivity differences are evaluated using principal component factor analysis to classify the columns into selectivity groups and correlation plots of the system constants for compared columns at all mobile phase compositions. The later is shown to be a suitable technique to identify (near) selectivity equivalent columns and varied columns suitable for method development. Contributions to retention from steric resistance and cation-exchange interactions not parameterized in the solvation parameter model are identified for columns and conditions where they may be important. It is shown that the interaction parameters employed in the hydrophobic-subtraction model have little overlap with those of the solvation parameter model and a quantitative comparison of column properties delineated by both models is not possible.

Mobile phase effects in reversed-phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography revisited

Correct adjustment of the mobile phase is equally important as the selection of the appropriate column for the separation of polar compounds in LC. Both solvophobic and selective polar interactions control the retention in the Reversed Phase and Hydrophilic Interaction modes. The retention models describing the effects of the volume fraction of the strong eluent component in binary mobile phases on the sample retention factors apply in a limited mobile phase composition range. We introduced a three-parameter retention model, which provides improved prediction of retention over a broad mobile phase range, under isocratic and gradient elution conditions. The model does not imply any assumptions concerning either adsorption or partition distribution mechanism, but allows estimating retention in pure strong and in pure weak mobile phase components. The experimental retention data for phenolic acids and flavones on several core-shell columns with different types of stationary phases agree with the theory.Many polar columns with important structural hydrophobic moieties show dual retention mechanism, (Reversed Phase in water rich mobile phases and Hydrophilic Interaction at high acetonitrile concentrations). It is possible to select the mobile phase compositions in each of the two modes for separations of samples containing compounds largely differing in polarity. The three-parameter model describes the retention in each mode, with separately determined best-fit parameters. We applied the two-mode model to the retention data of sulfonamides and benzoic acid related compounds on a new polymethacrylate zwitterionic monolithic micro-column.

Comparison of Separation of Seed Oil Triglycerides Containing Isomeric Conjugated Octadecatrienoic Acid Moieties by Reversed-Phase HPLC

Relative retention analysis and increment approach were applied for the comparison of triglycerides (TGs) retention of a broad set of plant seed oils with isomeric conjugated octadecatrienoic acids (CLnA) by reversed-phase HPLC for “propanol-2-acetonitrile” mobile phases and Kromasil 100-5C18 stationary phase with diode array detection (DAD) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The subjects of investigation were TGs of seed oils: Calendula officinalis, Catalpa ovata, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Centranthus ruber, Momordica charantia, Trichosanthes anguina, Punica granatum, Thladiantha dubia, Valeriana officinalis, and Vernicia montana. It was found that a sequence of elution of TGs of the same types is the same without any inversions for full range of mobile phase compositions: punicic (C18:39Z11E13Z) < jacaric (C18:38Z10E12Z) < catalpic (C18:39E11E13Z) < α-eleostearic (C18:39Z11E13E) < calendic (C18:38E10E12Z) < β-eleostearic (C18:39E11E13E) < all-E calendic (C18:38E10E12E) acids. TGs and fatty acid compositions were calculated for all oil samples. Regularities of solute retentions as a function of isomeric conjugated octadecatrienoic acid moiety structure are discussed. Thus, it was proven that it is possible to differentiate TGs of complex composition with moieties of all natural CLnA by retention control accomplished by electronic spectra comparison, even though there are only three types of electronic-vibration spectra for seven isomeric CLnA.

Enantioseparation of novel chiral sulfoxides on chlorinated polysaccharide stationary phases in supercritical fluid chromatography

Asymmetric sulfoxides is a particular case of chirality that may be found in natural as well as synthetic products. Twenty-four original molecules containing a sulfur atom as a centre of chirality were analyzed in supercritical fluid chromatography on seven polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSP) with carbon dioxide – methanol mobile phases. While all the tested CSP provided enantioseparation for a large part of the racemates, chlorinated cellulosic phases proved to be both highly retentive and highly enantioselective towards these species.Favourable structural features were determined by careful comparison of the enantioseparation of the probe molecules. Molecular modelling studies indicate that U-shaped (folded) conformations were most favorable to achieve high enantioresolution on these CSP, while linear (extended) conformations were not so clearly discriminated.For a subset of these species adopting different conformations, a broad range of mobile phase compositions, ranging from 20 to 100% methanol in carbon dioxide, were investigated. While retention decreased continuously in this range, enantioseparation varied in a non-monotonous fashion. Abrupt changes in the tendency curves of retention and selectivity were observed when methanol proportion reaches about 60%, suggesting that a change in the conformation of the analytes and/or chiral selector is occurring at this point.

Systematic interpolation method predicts protein chromatographic elution with salt gradients, pH gradients and combined salt/pH gradients.

A methodology is presented to predict protein elution behavior from an ion exchange column using both individual or combined pH and salt gradients based on high-throughput batch isotherm data. The buffer compositions are first optimized to generate linear pH gradients from pH 5.5 to 7 with defined concentrations of sodium chloride. Next, high-throughput batch isotherm data are collected for a monoclonal antibody on the cation exchange resin POROS XS over a range of protein concentrations, salt concentrations, and solution pH. Finally, a previously developed empirical interpolation (EI) method is extended to describe protein binding as a function of the protein and salt concentration and solution pH without using an explicit isotherm model. The interpolated isotherm data are then used with a lumped kinetic model to predict the protein elution behavior. Experimental results obtained for laboratory scale columns show excellent agreement with the predicted elution curves for both individual or combined pH and salt gradients at protein loads up to 45 mg/mL of column. Numerical studies show that the model predictions are robust as long as the isotherm data cover the range of mobile phase compositions where the protein actually elutes from the column.

Postpolymerization modification of a hydroxy monolith precursor. Part I. Epoxy alkane and octadecyl isocyanate modified poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐pentaerythritol triacrylate) monolithic capillary columns for reversed‐phase capillary electrochromatography

A novel precursor monolithic capillary column referred to as "hydroxy monolith" or OHM was prepared by the in situ copolymerization of hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) with pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) yielding the neutral poly(HEMA-co-PETA) monolith. The neutral precursor OHM capillary thus obtained was subjected to postpolymerization modifications of the hydroxyl functional groups present on its surface with 1,2-epoxyalkanes catalyzed by boron trifluoride (BF3 ) ultimately providing Epoxy OHM C-m capillary column at varying alkyl chain lengths where m = 8, 12, 14, and 16 for RP-CEC. Also, the same precursor OHM was grafted with octadecyl isocyanate yielding Isocyanato OHM C-18 column to provide an insight into the effect of the nature of the linkage to the surface hydroxyl groups of the OHM precursor. While the epoxide reaction leaves on the surface of the OHM precursor hydroxy-ether linkages, the isocyanato reaction leaves carbamate linkages on the same surface of the OHM precursor. This study revealed that changing the alkyl chain length resulted in changing the column phase ratio (ϕ)and also the solute distribution constant (K). While increasing the surface alkyl chain length increased steeply the solute hydrophobic selectivity, i.e. methylene group selectivity, the nature of the ligand linkage produced different retention for the same solutes and affected the selectivity of slightly polar solutes. The various monoliths proved very useful for RP-CEC of different small solutes at varying polarity over a wide range of mobile phase composition.

Monolithic stationary phases with incorporated fumed silica nanoparticles. Part I. Polymethacrylate-based monolithic column with incorporated bare fumed silica nanoparticles for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

Fumed silica nanoparticles (FSNPs), were incorporated for the first time into a polymethacrylate monolithic column containing glyceryl monomethacrylate (GMM) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in order to develop a new monolithic column for hydrophilic interaction high performance liquid chromatography (HILIC). When compared to poly(GMM-EDMA) monolithic column without FSNPs, the same monolithic column with incorporated FSNPs yielded important effects on HILIC separations. The effects of monomers and FSNPs content of the polymerization mixture on the performance of the monolithic column were examined in details, and the optimized stationary phase was investigated over a wide range of mobile phase composition with polar acidic, weakly basic and neutral analytes including hydroxy benzoic acids, nucleotides, nucleosides, dimethylformamide, formamide and thiourea. The retention of these analytes was mainly controlled by hydrophilic interactions with the FSNPs and electrostatic repulsion from the negatively charged silica surface in the case of hydroxy benzoic acids and nucleotides. The electrostatic repulsion was minimized by decreasing the pH of the aqueous component of the mobile phase, which in turn enhanced the retention of acidic solutes. Nucleotides were best separated using step gradient elution at decreasing pH as well as ACN concentration in the mobile phase. Improved peak shape and faster analysis of nucleosides were attained by a fast linear gradient elution with a shallow decrease in the ACN content of the ACN-rich mobile phase. The run-to-run and column-to-column reproducibility were satisfactory. The percent relative standard deviations (%RSDs) for the retention times of tested solutes were lower than 2.5% under isocratic conditions and lower than 3.5 under gradient conditions.

Separation of flavonoids on different phenyl-bonded stationary phases-the influence of polar groups in stationary phase structure

Four phenyl-bonded stationary phases, differing in polar embedded group between spacer and phenyl ring, were used for the separation of flavonoids in reversed-phase conditions. In addition, the work was focused on the comparison of these stationary phases in terms of retention and nature of interactions between flavonoid solutes and both, mobile and stationary phases. The differences and similarities between the columns and between individual flavonoids were evaluated by a statistical analysis. The retention over the wider range of mobile phase composition was described using well known model suggested for partition chromatographic systems. Due to differences in polarity of flavonoids, gradient elution had to be applied to achieve appropriate conditions for the successful separation. A chromatographic optimization software was employed for establish the appropriate profiles of gradient separations using UV detection at 275nm. The most appropriate conditions for the separation of flavonoids were apparent on the phenyl and phenoxy columns.

Performance of charged aerosol detection with hydrophilic interaction chromatography

The performance of the charged aerosol detector (CAD) was investigated using a diverse set of 29 solutes, including acids, bases and neutrals, over a range of mobile phase compositions, particularly with regard to its suitability for use in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Flow injection analysis was employed as a rapid method to study detector performance. CAD response was ‘quasi-universal’, strong signals were observed for compounds that have low volatility at typical operating (room) temperature. For relatively involatile solutes, response was reasonably independent of solute chemistry, giving variation of 12–18% RSD from buffered 95% ACN (HILIC) to 10% ACN (RP). Somewhat higher response was obtained for basic compared with neutral solutes. For cationic basic solutes, use of anionic reagents of increasing size in the mobile phase (formic, trifluoroacetic and heptafluorobutyric acid) produced somewhat increased detector response, suggesting that salt formation with these reagents is contributory. However, the increase was not stoichiometric, pointing to a complex mechanism. In general, CAD response increased as the concentration of acetonitrile in the mobile phase was increased from highly aqueous (10% ACN) to values typical in the HILIC range (80–95% ACN), with signal to noise ratios about four times higher than those for the RP range. The response of the CAD is non-linear. Equations describing aerosol formation cannot entirely explain the shape of the plots. Limits of detection (determined with a column for solutes of low k) under HILIC conditions were of the order of 1–3ng on column, which compares favourably with other universal detectors. CAD response to inorganic anions allows observation of the independent movement through the column of the cationic and anionic constituents of basic drugs, which appear to be accompanied by mobile phase counterions, even at quite high solute concentrations.

Columns and optimum gradient conditions for fast second‐dimension separations in comprehensive two‐dimensional liquid chromatography

Gradient elution provides significantly higher peak capacity in comparison to the isocratic elution mode, hence it is very useful in online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC). We compared suitability of five commercial core-shell columns and one monolithic column for fast gradients in the second LC dimension, where the time of separation is strictly limited by the fraction cycle time. In two-dimensional reversed-phase systems with partially correlated retention, the resolution, the peak capacity, and the regularity of coverage of the second-dimension retention space can be improved by appropriate adjusting the gradient time and the gradient range to suit the sample properties. We developed a new strategy for adjusting the gradient mobile phase composition range in the second-dimension, employing the retention data of representative sample standards characterizing the sample properties, which can be calibrated using the reference alkylbenzene series. Optimized second-dimension gradients with single-step or segmented profiles covering two or more fraction ranges, employed for the separation of subsequent fractions from the first-dimension, improve significantly the resolution, the separation time, and the regularity of coverage of the two-dimensional retention plane. The approach was applied to the two-dimensional comprehensive separation of phenolic acids and flavonoid compounds occurring as natural antioxidants.

HYDROPHILIC INTERACTION PLANAR CHROMATOGRAPHY OF GEOMETRICAL ISOMERS OF SELECTED Co(III) COMPLEXES

The retention behavior of fourteen geometrically isomeric Co(III) complexes: three pairs of neutral facial-meridional (fac-mer) isomers, one pair of cis-trans isomeric complexes of neutral type, and three pairs of cationic cis-trans isomers have been investigated on thin-layer of silica gel. The effect of the composition of the mobile phases consisting of different ratios of water, methanol, and sodium chloride on retention of the complexes has been explored. In the broad range of mobile phase compositions, a successful separation of geometrical isomers was obtained. A retention order of isomeric complexes consistent with the mobile phase composition was found. The best resolution of isomers was achieved by using solvent systems containing 10% water. On the basis of the results obtained, possible separation mechanisms were considered. Hydrophilic-interaction chromatography was assumed to be the mechanism determining separation in the case of mobile phases containing small amounts of both water and salt.

Evaluation of separation parameters for selected organophosphorus fungicides of forensic importance by RP-HPTLC

Summary Studies on the evaluation of separation efficacies are of primary interest to forensic analysts for newly available pesticides. In the present work, a method is described for the separation evaluation of three selected organophosphorus fungicides (OPFs) ditalimfos (D), edifenfos (E), and tolclofos-methyl (TM) by reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography (RP-HPTLC). The method is based on the separation of three OPFs on silica gel 60 RP-18WF254 plates with varying mobile phase compositions (10:0–6:4) of methanol-water. The relationship between the mobile phase composition and retention parameters (RF and RM) as well as separation parameters (ΔRF, RS, α, RFα) was analyzed. The three OPFs are completely separated from each other with ΔRF ≥ 0.04, except for the pair of compounds E-TM in the mobile phase composition 10:0, 7:3, 6.5:3.5, and 6:4. Under the chromatographic conditions used, TM was adsorbed the strongest, followed by E and D, which is indicated by the higher RM values obtained for TM. Peak resolution (RS) values greater than 1.5 were obtained over the entire range of mobile phase composition, except for the pair of compounds E-TM. The UV apex of maximum absorption was 200 nm for all the three OPFs as measured by multiwave-length scan in the UV range, and higher values of peak area and peak height were obtained at the same wavelength. The present study clearly indicates that the system of RPHPTLC with mobile phase methanol-water in a volume composition 8:2 (υ/υ) provides the optimum conditions for the separation of the three OPFs. However, the complete separation of E from TM was not achieved using this system.

The effect of temperature and mobile phase composition on separation mechanism of flavonoid compounds on hydrosilated silica-based columns

We investigated the effects of mobile phase composition on the retention of flavones on four different hydrosilated C silica-based columns in buffered aqueous acetonitrile. Cogent UDC cholesterol™ and Cogent bidentate C18™ columns show significant dual reversed-phase/normal-phase retention behavior, while Cogent Diamond hydride™ and Cogent Silica hydride™ columns show negligible retention in the reversed-phase mode. The effect of the aqueous acetate buffer concentration on retention factors of flavones over the full mobile phase composition range, including both aqueous normal-phase (ANP) and reversed-phase mechanisms, can be described by a four-parameter equation for dual-retention mechanism. At increasing temperature, the retention factors and peak widths decrease both in the aqueous normal phase and in the reversed phase mobile phase range. In agreement with van’t Hoff model, linear lnk versus 1/T plots were observed, showing a single retention mechanism in the highly organic normal-phase and in highly aqueous reversed-phase mobile phase ranges. From among the stationary phases tested, Cogent UDC cholesterol™ column has high temperature stability (up to 100°C) and provides most selective and efficient separations of flavones both in the ANP and in the RP modes with almost reversed elution order.

Incorporation of carbon nanotubes in a silica HPLC column to enhance the chromatographic separation of peptides: Theoretical and practical aspects

The retention mechanism of a series of peptides on a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) stationary phase inside an HPLC column was investigated over a wide range of mobile phase compositions. While the similar size C18 column exhibited an efficiency of 11.5 μm, the SWCNT column increased the efficiency, i.e. 7.10 μm at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, and significantly affected the separation quality of the peptides. The values of enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS(*)) of transfer of the peptides from the mobile to the SWCNT stationary phase were determined. The method studied each factor, i.e. ACN fraction x in the ACN/water mixture and column temperature. The changes in retention factor, ΔH and ΔS(*) as a function of the ACN fraction in the mobile phase were examined. These variations are explained using the organization of ACN in clusters in the ACN/water mixture and on the steric and electronic forces implied in the retention process. The information obtained in this work makes this SWCNT stationary phase useful for peptide research and demonstrated the role of ACN to improve the separation quality.

The Determination of Paraben Preservatives in Syrup Formulations

A rapid and robust HPLC assay procedure for measuring methyl and propyl parabens in syrup formulations was developed employing ethyl paraben as internal standard. The method was validated and found to be linear over the concentration range 0–30 μg mL−1 and over a range of mobile phase compositions and pH. The main degradation product was found to be p-hydroxybenzoic acid which could also be determined by this method. Extraction of parabens from syrups was investigated and found to be incomplete and variable. The parabens were degraded under forced conditions to determine the extent of degradation in the dry state and in syrup formulations. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was present in all samples. Incomplete extraction is attributed to interaction with the sugar matrix.

Effects of the gradient profile, sample volume and solvent on the separation in very fast gradients, with special attention to the second-dimension gradient in comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography

Gradient elution provides significant improvement in peak capacity with respect to isocratic conditions and therefore should be used in comprehensive two-dimensional LC × LC, both in the first and in the second dimension, where, however, gradients are limited to a short time period available for separation, usually 1 min or less. Gradient conditions spanning over a broad mobile phase composition range in each second-dimension fraction analysis are used with generic “full in fraction” (FIF) gradients. “Segment in fraction” (SIF) gradients cover a limited gradient range adjusted independently to suit changing lipophilicity range of compounds transferred to the second dimension during the first-dimension gradient run and to provide regular coverage of the two-dimensional retention space. Optimization of the gradient profiles is important tool for achieving high two-dimensional peak capacity and savings of the separation time in comprehensive LC × LC. Calculations based on the well-established gradient-elution theory can be used to predict the elution times and bandwidths in fast gradients, taking into account increased probability of pre-gradient or post-gradient elution. The fraction volumes transferred into the second dimension may significantly affect the second-dimension bandwidths, especially at high elution strength of the fraction solvent, which may cause even band distortion or splitting in combined normal-phase (HILIC)–RP systems, but also in some two-dimensional RP–RP systems. In the present work, the effects of the fast gradient profile, of the sample volume and solvent on the elution time and bandwidths were investigated on a short column packed with fused-core porous-shell particles, providing narrow bandwidths and fast separations at moderate operating pressure.