Comparison of some packings for reversed-phase high-performance liquid—solid chromatography

Enantioseparation of N-acetyl-dl-cysteine as o-phtaldialdehyde derivatives obtained with various primary aliphatic amine additives on polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases

A sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to enantioseparation of N-acetyl-dl-cysteine after precolumn derivatization using o-phthaldialdehyde and primary aliphatic amines. Seven polysaccharide-based chiral columns were tested in a reversed phase mode. Under the optimal chromatographic conditions, N-acetyl-dl-cysteine derivatives were completely enantioseparated on Chiralcel OZ-3R column with the resolution more than 2.5. The impact of various primary aliphatic amine additives as co-reagents (ethyl-, 1-propyl-, 1-butyl-, 1-pentylamine, (R)-sec-butylamine, tert-butylamine, isobutylamine, cyclopropyl-, cyclobutyl-, cyclopentyl and cyclohexylamine) used in precolumn derivatization step on the retention behavior (retention factor, selectivity and column efficiency) of N-acetyl-dl-cysteine derivatives was investigated. The effect of chromatographic conditions including acetonitrile content in the mobile phase, mobile phase pH, salt concentration in the mobile phase and column temperature on the retention and selectivity was investigated. The developed method was properly validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity (limit of detection and limit of quantification), accuracy, precision, intermediate precision and selectivity according to International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines using internal normalization procedure. Proposed HPLC method was successfully applied to the determination of optical purity in commercially available N-acetyl-L-cysteine samples.

Column Characterization and Selection Systems in Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) is the most popular chromatographic mode, accounting for more than 90% of all separations. HPLC itself owes its immense popularity to it being relatively simple and inexpensive, with the equipment being reliable and easy to operate. Due to extensive automation, it can be run virtually unattended with multiple samples at various separation conditions, even by relatively low-skilled personnel. Currently, there are >600 RP-HPLC columns available to end users for purchase, some of which exhibit very large differences in selectivity and production quality. Often, two similar RP-HPLC columns are not equally suitable for the requisite separation, and to date, there is no universal RP-HPLC column covering a variety of analytes. This forces analytical laboratories to keep a multitude of diverse columns. Therefore, column selection is a crucial segment of RP-HPLC method development, especially since sample complexity is constantly increasing. Rationally choosing an appropriate column is complicated. In addition to the differences in the primary intermolecular interactions with analytes of the dispersive (London) type, individual columns can also exhibit a unique character owing to specific polar, hydrogen bond, and electron pair donor-acceptor interactions. They can also vary depending on the type of packing, amount and type of residual silanols, "end-capping", bonding density of ligands, and pore size, among others. Consequently, the chromatographic performance of RP-HPLC systems is often considerably altered depending on the selected column. Although a wide spectrum of knowledge is available on this important subject, there is still a lack of a comprehensive review for an objective comparison and/or selection of chromatographic columns. We aim for this review to be a comprehensive, authoritative, critical, and easily readable monograph of the most relevant publications regarding column selection and characterization in RP-HPLC covering the past four decades. Future perspectives, which involve the integration of state-of-the-art molecular simulations (molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo) with minimal experiments, aimed at nearly "experiment-free" column selection methodology, are proposed.

Separation of structurally related primary aliphatic amines using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with fluorescence detection after postcolumn derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde/mercaptoethanol

The retention behavior of primary aliphatic amines (homologous series of aliphatic alkyl amines and cycloalkyl amines) and positional isomers of alkylamines in the hydrophilic interaction chromatography mode was studied. The study was carried out on a TSKgel Amide-80 column followed by postcolumn derivatization with fluorescence detection to describe the retention mechanism of tested compounds. The effect of chromatographic conditions including column temperature, acetonitrile content in the mobile phase, mobile phase pH (ranging from 3.5 to 6.8), and salt concentration in the mobile phase was investigated. The final mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and solution of 20 mM potassium formate pH 3.5 in ratio 80:20 v/v. The analyses were carried out at mobile phase flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and the column temperature of 20°C. The developed method was fully validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity (limit of detection and limit of quantification), accuracy, and precision according to International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines. The proposed new methods were proved to be highly sensitive, simple, and rapid, and were successfully applied to the determinations of isopropylamine, cyclohexylamine, and cyclopropylamine in relevant active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Can the theory of gradient liquid chromatography be useful in solving practical problems?

Advances in the theory of gradient liquid chromatography and their practical impacts are reviewed. Theoretical models describing retention in reversed-phase, normal-phase and ion-exchange modes are compared. Main attention is focused on practically useful models described by two- or three-parameter equations fitting the experimental data in the range of mobile phase composition utilized for sample migration during gradient elution. The applications of theory for gradient method development, optimization and transfer are addressed. The origins and possibilities for overcoming possible pitfalls are discussed, including the effects of the instrumental dwell volume, uptake of mobile phase components on the column and size of the sample molecules. Special attention is focused on gradient separations of large molecules.

Critical contribution of nonlinear chromatography to the understanding of retention mechanism in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The retention of most compounds in RPLC proceeds through a combination of several independent mechanisms. We review a series of recent studies made on the behavior of several commercial C18-bonded stationary phases and of the complex, mixed retention mechanisms that were observed in RPLC. These studies are essentially based on the acquisition of adsorption isotherm data, on the modeling, and on the interpretation of these data. Because linear chromatography deals only with the initial slope of the global, overall, or apparent isotherm, it is unable fully to describe the complete adsorption mechanism. It cannot even afford clues as to the existence of several overlaid retention mechanisms. More specifically, it cannot account for the consequences of the surface heterogeneity of the packing material. The acquisition of equilibrium data in a wide concentration range is required for this purpose. Frontal analysis (FA) of selected probes gives data that can be modeled into equilibrium isotherms of these probes and that can also be used to calculate their adsorption or affinity energy distribution (AED). The combination of these data, the detailed study of the best constants of the isotherm model, the determination of the influence of experimental parameters (e.g., buffer pH and pI, temperature) on the isotherm constants provide important clues regarding the heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface and the main properties of the adsorption mechanisms. The comparison of similar data obtained for the adsorption of neutral and ionizable compounds, treated with the same approach, and the investigation of the influence on the thermodynamics of phase equilibrium of the experimental conditions (temperature, average pressure, mobile phase composition, nature of the organic modifier, and, for ionizable compounds, of the ionic strength, the nature, the concentration of the buffer, and its pH) brings further information. This review provides original conclusions regarding retention mechanisms in RPLC.

HPLC determination of lincomycin in premixes and feedstuffs with solid-phase extraction on HLB OASIS and LC-MS/MS confirmation

A rapid clean-up procedure based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC determination of lincomycin in premixes with UV detection is described. After extraction of lincomycin from premix with extraction solvent the extract is applied to OASIS HLB column treated with methanol and water. Lincomycin is eluted with methanol and effluent is analysed on analytical column (phenyl) using mobile phase consists 0.2% phosphoric acid in water and acetonitrile (875:125, v/v). Detection is performed at 208 nm. Quantitation is carried out using external standard. The mean recovery of lincomycin was 105.0+/-7.3%, in concentration range of 250-750 mg kg(-1), and 99.8+/-3.7%, in concentration range of 10,000-150,000 mg kg(-1). The limit of determination, based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 10:1, was 5.2 mg kg(-1). LC-MS/MS confirmation of lincomycin is also presented. Identification was performed by monitoring two pairs of multiple reaction monitoring ions from the parent ions (m/z 407.2-->126.1 and 407.2-->359.2) at the defined retention time window and by matching of the specific tolerance of relative abundance of major ions as stated in the European Union Commission Decision 2002/657/EC.

Thermodynamic interpretation of retention equilibrium in reversed-phase liquid chromatography based on enthalpy-entropy compensation

The fundamentals of the retention equilibrium in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) are studied on the basis of enthalpy-entropy compensation (EEC). First, retention data were acquired and the influence of the nature of the compounds, organic solvent modifier, and temperature on these data was assessed. Then, the data were analyzed according to the four different methods proposed by Krug et al., and an EEC was formally established. Linear correlations were observed between the logarithm of the adsorption equilibrium constants under the different RPLC conditions, suggesting linear free energy relationships (LFERs). Finally, the variations of the retentions with the experimental conditions are shown to be quantitatively explained by a new model based on EEC. This model affords a comprehensive interpretation of the variations of retention originating from changes of either one parameter alone or several simultaneously. The slope and intercept of the LFER that relates two equilibrium systems are accounted for by the new model. The parameters of this model are the changes of enthalpy and entropy associated with the retention, the compensation temperatures, and the experimental conditions.

Retention equilibrium and mass transfer characteristics in reversed-phase liquid chromatography using methanol-water mixtures

Pulse response experiments (i.e., elution chromatography) were made in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) using a C18 silica gel column and methanol-water mixtures of different compositions (phi). The moment analysis of the elution peak profiles measured in the RPLC system provided some items of information about four parameters characterizing the retention equilibrium and the mass transfer kinetics in the column, i.e., adsorption equilibrium constant, isosteric heat of adsorption, surface diffusion coefficient and activation energy of surface diffusion. Characteristics of the chromatographic behavior were studied by analyzing the dependence of the four parameters on phi and the correlation between them. It was found that surface diffusion was one of the important processes of molecular migration having a significant contribution to the mass transfer kinetics in the column. Both the adsorption equilibrium constant and the surface diffusion coefficient varied depending on phi. The direction of their changes was approximately opposite, suggesting that the mass transfer in the manner of surface diffusion was restricted owing to the retention of the sample molecules on the stationary phase.

Eluotropic strength in non-aqueous liquid chromatography with porous graphitic carbon

Porous graphitic carbon is an attractive packing for the chromatographic analysis of highly hydrocarbonaceous compounds with non-aqueous mobile phase. An eluotropic-strength scale of 10 pure organic solvents was established using the methylene selectivity from the fatty acid methyl ester homologous series (chain length between 18 and 31 carbon atoms). Eight binary mobile phases combining a weak solvent: methanol or acetonitrile with a strong solvent: toluene, chloroform, dichloromethane or tetrahydrofuran at different volume fractions phi of strong solvents (ranging from 0.3 to 1.0) were tested and their eluotropic strengths were then compared with those of pure solvents. The curves of the eluotropic strength versus the volume fraction of the strong solvent followed two different trends: linear or curved. The knowledge of the pure solvent strength is not sufficient to predict the eluotropic strength of solvent in the mixture. Then modelling of the eluotropic strength for binary mobile phases was envisaged in order to provide a prediction tool. This model was assessed for the establishment of the composition of eight iso-eluotropic mobile phases. Good assessment was found except in the case of toluene with acetonitrile where the difference between the predicted and the real value was the highest.

New model of surface diffusion in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

A new model of surface diffusion in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) was derived by assuming a correlation between surface and molecular diffusion. Analysis of surface diffusion data under different conditions of sample compounds, mobile and stationary phases, and temperature in RPLC systems validates this assumption and shows that surface diffusion should be regarded as a molecular diffusion restricted by the adsorptive interactions between the adsorbate molecule and the stationary phase surface. A surface-restricted molecular diffusion model was proposed as a first approximation for the mechanism of surface diffusion. The model is formulated according to the absolute rate theory. The activation energy of surface diffusion (Es) was quantitatively interpreted assuming that Es consists of the contributions of two processes, a hole-making and a jumping one. The former contribution is nearly equal to the activation energy of molecular diffusion and is correlated with the evaporative energy of the mobile phase solvent. The latter contribution is a fraction of the isosteric heat of adsorption. An appropriate explanation based on this new model of surface diffusion is provided for two contradictory results related to the relationship between retention equilibrium and surface diffusion in RPLC and to the surface diffusion coefficient for weakly retained sample compounds.

Study of feed temperature control of chromatography using computional fluid dynamics simulation

Recently preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been used more and more frequently to separate drugs and natural substances. However, large-scale HPLC easily tends to reduce the yield and purity of the product. Hydrodynamic and heat factors play an important roles. Generally, in a large-scale HPLC column, the tracer profile inside column will take on a parabolic shape because of the distributor, which will impact the separation performance of the column. With the inlet temperature suitably lower than the wall temperature, this situation could be improved to some extent. In this work, some experiments were conducted using HPLC, with a column 10 cm in diameter to determine the optimal temperature difference between wall and inlet temperatures. The wall temperature was fixed at about 30 degrees C and the inlet temperature varied from 15 to 30 degrees C. The flow-rate of the eluent, methanol, was 300 ml/min. The experimental result was simulated using CFD software FLUENT 4.4.4. The simulated temperature field fitted the experimental one very well and the simulated flow, temperature and tracer distribution inside column could provide good explanation of separation performance under different conditions. In addition, the simulation could at least approximately predict the optimal temperature difference.

Retention and mass transfer characteristics in reversed-phase liquid chromatography using a tetrahydrofuran-water solution as the mobile phase

The characteristics of the retention and the mass transfer kinetics in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) were measured on a system consisting of a C18-silica gel and a tetrahydrofuran-water (50:50, v/v) solution. These parameters were derived from the first and the second moments of the elution peaks, respectively. Further information on the thermodynamic properties of this system was derived from the temperature dependence of these moments. Some correlations previously established were confirmed for this system, namely, an enthalpy-entropy compensation for both retention and surface diffusion and a linear free-energy relationship. These results are compared with those observed in other similar systems using methanol-water (70:30, v/v) and acetonitnile-water (70:30, v/v) solutions. The contribution of surface diffusion to intraparticle diffusion in C18-silica gel particles was shown to be important. The analysis of the thermodynamic properties of surface diffusion suggests that, in these three RPLC systems, its activation energy is lower than the isosteric heat of adsorption. The nature and the extent of the influence of the mobile phase composition on the parameters describing the retention and the mass transfer kinetics are different but the chromatographic mechanisms involved in RPLC systems appear similar, irrespective of the nature of the organic modifier in the mobile phase.

Role of helix formation for the retention of peptides in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

In order to get insight into the role of helix formation for retention in reversed-phase HPLC, we have studied the isocratic retention behavior of amphipathic and non-amphipathic potentially helical model peptides. Plots of the logarithmic capacity factor in absence of organic solvent (ln k0) versus l/T were used to derive the enthalpy, deltaH0, the free energy, deltaG0, the entropy of interaction, deltaS0, and the heat capacity change, deltaCp. Retention of all peptides was accompanied by negative deltaCp revealing that hydrophobic interactions play a large role independent of peptide sequence and secondary structure. deltaH0 was negative for the amphipathic analogs and was attributed mainly to helix formation of these peptides upon interaction with the stationary phase. In contrast, deltaH0 was considerably less exothermic or even endothermic for the non-amphipathic analogs. The differences in helix formation between the individual analogs were quantified on the basis of thermodynamic data of helix formation previously derived for peptides in a hydrophobic environment. Correlation of the helicity with the free energy of stationary phase interaction revealed that helix formation accounts for approximately 40-70% of deltaG0, and is hence in addition to the hydrophobic effect a major driving force of retention.

A study of the enthalpy and entropy contributions of the stationary phase in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The goal of this study was to elucidate the roles played by the stationary and mobile phases in retention in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) in terms of their individual enthalpic and entropic contribution to the Gibbs free energy of retention. The experimental approach involved measuring standard enthalpies of transfer of alkylbenzenes from typical mobile phases used in RPLC (methanol/water and acetonitrile/water mixtures), as well as from n-hexadecane (a simple analogue of the stationary phase) to the gas phase, using high-precision headspace gas chromatography. By combining the measured enthalpies with independently measured free energies of transfer, the entropies of transfer were obtained. This allowed us to examine more fully the contribution that each phase makes to the overall retention. It was found that the standard enthalpy of retention in RPLC (i.e., solute transfer from the mobile phase to the stationary phase) is favorable, due to the large and favorable stationary-phase contribution, which actually overcomes an unfavorable mobile-phase contribution to the enthalpy of retention. Further, the net free energy of retention is favorable due to the favorable enthalpic contribution to retention, which arises from the net interactions in the stationary phase. Entropic contributions to retention are not controlling. Therefore, to a great extent, retention is due to enthalpically dominated lipophilic interaction of nonpolar solutes with the stationary phase and not from solvophobic processes in the mobile phase. Further, our enthalpy data support a "partition-like" mechanism of retention rather than an "adsorption-like" mechanism. These results indicate that the stationary phase plays a very significant role in the overall retention process. Our conclusions are in direct contrast to the solvophobic model that has been used extensively to interpret retention in RPLC.