Effect of radial gradient of temperature on the performance of large-diameter high-performance liquid chromatography columns. I. Analytical conditions

Implementations of temperature gradients in temperature-responsive liquid chromatography

Temperature Responsive Liquid Chromatography (TRLC) offers an alternative and environmentally friendly way to perform reversed-phase like separations. Its use of temperature responsive polymers to control retention based on column temperature, instead of the fraction of organic modifier in the mobile phase mobile, eliminates the need for solvent composition gradients and allows, for example, for purely aqueous separations. In principle this temperature induced retention should allow for gradient elutions to be performed using downward temperature gradients to control retention and refocus the analyte peaks. Yet, the unavailability of dedicated commercial temperature controlling systems allowing suitable temperature control in TRLC limits implementations thereof often to isothermal or step gradient applications. In this work we study the potential of 1) a simple yet programmable water bath and of 2) a modified HPLC system allowing column temperature programming through controlled mixing of a warm and cold mobile phase streams. The performance of both systems was evaluated under both isocratic and gradient applications, resulting in a more thorough understanding of the influence of temperature gradients in TRLC. This knowledge is then applied to a sample of phenolic solutes, illustrating that, although both systems have some flaws, both are able to impose temperature gradients in TRLC resulting in significantly reduced retention and enhanced refocusing of the analyte peak.

Advancements in the preparation and application of monolithic silica columns for efficient separation in liquid chromatography

Fast and efficient separation remains a big challenge in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The need for higher efficiency and resolution in separation is constantly in demand. To achieve that, columns developed are rapidly moving towards having smaller particle sizes and internal diameters (i.d.). However, these parameters will lead to high back-pressure in the system and will burden the pumps of the HPLC instrument. To address this limitation, monolithic columns, especially silica-based monolithic columns have been introduced. These columns are being widely investigated for fast and efficient separation of a wide range of molecules. The present article describes the current methods developed to enhance the column efficiency of particle packed columns and how silica monolithic columns can act as an alternative in overcoming the low permeability of particle packed columns. The fundamental processes behind the fabrication of the monolith including the starting materials and the silica sol-gel process will be discussed. Different monolith derivatization and end-capping processes will be further elaborated and followed by highlights of the performance such monolithic columns in key applications in different fields with various types of matrices.

Effect of the Length-to-Width Aspect Ratio of a Cuboid Packed-Bed Device on Efficiency of Chromatographic Separation

In recent papers we have discussed the use of cuboid packed-bed devices as alternative to columns for chromatographic separations. These devices address some of the major flow distribution challenges faced by preparative columns used for process-scale purification of biologicals. Our previous studies showed that significant improvements in separation metrics such as the number of theoretical plates, peak shape, and peak resolution in multi-protein separation could be achieved. However, the length-to-width aspect ratio of a cuboid packed-bed device could potentially affect its performance. A systematic comparison of six cuboid packed-bed devices having different length-to-width aspect ratios showed that it had a significant effect on separation performance. The number of theoretical plates per meter in the best-performing cuboid packed-bed device was about 4.5 times higher than that in its equivalent commercial column. On the other hand, the corresponding number in the worst-performing cuboid-packed bed was lower than that in the column. A head-to-head comparison of the best-performing cuboid packed bed and its equivalent column was carried out. Performance metrics compared included the widths and dispersion indices of flow-through and eluted protein peaks. The optimized cuboid packed-bed device significantly outperformed its equivalent column with regards to all these attributes.

Consequences of the radial heterogeneity of the column temperature at high mobile phase velocity

When a high velocity stream of mobile phase percolates through a chromatographic column, the bed cannot remain isothermal. Due to the mobile phase decompression, heat is generated along the column. Longitudinal and radial temperature gradients take place along and across its bed. The various consequences of this thermal heterogeneity are calculated and their effects on the column efficiency investigated for a 0.46 cm x 25 cm stainless steel column packed with 5 microm particles. The maximum pressure drop applied was varied from 0.1 to 2 kbar. The amplitude of the longitudinal temperature gradient can be estimated on the basis of the integral heat balance equation applied to the whole column and of measurements of the eluent temperature at the column exit. Assuming that the radial gradient is parabolic and the longitudinal gradient linear, the amplitude of the radial gradient can be determined on the basis of the energy balance across the column and of direct measurements of the radial gradient at high inlet pressures. A radial temperature gradient causes a radial distribution of the eluent viscosity, hence of its local velocity. The result is that bands move faster in their center than along the wall, become warped, hence a radial concentration gradient, similar in origin to the one observed in open cylindrical tubes. Diffusion relaxes this gradient. If there is only a longitudinal temperature gradient, the column efficiency would be 30% smaller for a 2 kbar pressure drop than if there is no longitudinal temperature gradient. However, when both a longitudinal and a radial temperature gradient coexist, there is a large loss of efficiency. If the influence of the diffusive relaxation of the radial concentration gradient is neglected, the peak shape would be broad and exhibit a marked shoulder.

The limits of the separation power of unidimensional column liquid chromatography

The practical limit of the separation power of HPLC depends on time, money, and skill. That is it depends on the time available for the analysis, on the quality and performance of the pump and hardware and particularly on the maximum pressure at which the pump can deliver the mobile phase to the column, and on the temperature at which the column can be operated. It also depends on the properties of the packing material selected (e.g., its particle size, its pore geometry, and its connectivity) and on the packing method used since it affects the coefficients of the HETP equation. Finally, it depends on the thermal stability of the sample and the packing material. The complexity of the sample also plays an important role in that it determines whether the analysis should be made under isocratic, isothermal conditions, in gradient elution, in temperature programming, or with a combination of both types of programming. The various phenomena that affect column properties and separation performance are discussed. Past achievements suggest that columns providing efficiencies in excess of a million plates in less than 1 day are within the grasp of current technology. The possibility of further advances are considered.

Effect of temperature on competitive adsorption of the solute and the organic solvent in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

In analysis of the temperature effect on chromatographic separations the influence of the adsorption of organic solvent on the retention properties of solute is generally not taken into account. In fact, adsorption behavior of solutes is strongly affected by competitive adsorption of organic solvents, which is temperature dependent. In this work changes of adsorption equilibrium of an organic solvent as well as a solute with temperature have been analyzed. Data of the excess adsorption of methanol from aqueous solutions on octadecyl-bonded silica have been acquired at different temperature. Experiments have been performed over a relatively narrow temperature range corresponding to typical chromatographic conditions, i.e., 10-50 degrees C. The competitive adsorption equilibria of model solutes (i.e., two homologous compounds: cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone) have been measured at different temperature and composition of the mobile phase. Temperature alterations to the retention properties were found to result from combined effects of changes in adsorption behavior of the organic solvent and of the solute. The influence of temperature on the separation selectivity has been considered.

Converging flow chromatography in constant-pressure mode

Dispersion in chromatographic processes can be reduced to a minimum using converging columns and a curved frit at the outlet. Working at constant pressure at the inlet the internal packing is increasingly compressed by the accelerated flow. Thus the packed bed is stabilized. Under these conditions the observed flux at the outlet and the power input of the pump are inversely related to the viscosity of the eluting solute. Comparing converging flow chromatography (CFC) with classical axial flow chromatography (AFC) and radial flow chromatography (RFC) the stationary phase is used more efficiently in CFC.

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.

Preparative enantioseparation by simulated moving bed chromatography

Simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography was invented in the 1960s in the petrochemical industry and has since then been widely used to produce petrochemicals and sugars at the multi-ton scale. In the early 1990s its principle could be successfully adapted to chromatographic enantioseparation, due to developments in system design, chiral stationary phase synthesis and improvements in modelling and simulation of non-linear chromatographic behaviour. Since then a lot of separation systems have been brought into production, which are reviewed. In addition new developments are outlined in the field of system design and stationary phase development.