Multidimensional chromatographic analysis of carboxylic acid-functionalized polyethylene

Carboxy-functionalized polyethylene is comprehensively analysed using a multidimensional fractionation approach based on high-temperature HPLC, two-dimensional liquid chromatography and selective infrared detection.

Comprehensive Three-Dimensional LC × LC × Ion Mobility Spectrometry Separation Combined with High-Resolution MS for the Analysis of Complex Samples

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) and ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) are increasingly being used to address challenges associated with the analysis of highly complex samples. In this work, we evaluate the potential of the combination of these techniques in the form of a comprehensive three-dimensional LC × LC × IMS separation system. As application, hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) × reversed phase LC (RP-LC) × IMS-high-resolution MS (HR-MS) was used to analyze a range of phenolic compounds, including hydrolyzable and condensed tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in several natural products. A protocol for the extraction and visualization of the four-dimensional data obtained using this approach was developed. We show that the combination of HILIC, RP-LC, and IMS offers excellent separation of complex phenolic samples in three dimensions. Benefits associated with the incorporation of IMS include improved MS sensitivity and mass-spectral data quality. IMS also provided separation of trimeric procyanidin isomeric species that could not be differentiated by HILIC × RP-LC or HR-MS. On the traveling wave IMS (TWIMS) system used here, both IMS separation performance and the extent of second dimension (²D) undersampling depend on the upper mass scan limit, which might present a limitation for the analysis of larger molecular ions. The performance of the LC × LC × IMS system was characterized in terms of practical peak capacity and separation power, using established theory and taking undersampling and orthogonality into account. An average increase in separation performance by a factor of 13 was found for the samples analyzed here when IMS was incorporated into the HILIC × RP-LC-MS workflow.

Comprehensive Analysis of Oxidized Waxes by Solvent and Thermal Gradient Interaction Chromatography and Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography

This report addresses the comprehensive analysis of oxidized/functionalized polyethylene waxes according to chemical composition and molar mass by selective chromatographic methods. For the first time, tailored high-temperature interaction chromatography in solvent gradient (HT-SGIC) and thermal gradient (HT-TGIC) modes are used for the chemical composition separation of these materials. Separation protocols are developed using three model wax samples with different degrees of oxidation. For the chromatographic separations polar silica gel is used as the stationary phase. Solvent gradients of decane and cyclohexanone are used in HT-SGIC at 110 °C to separate the bulk waxes into several heterogeneous fractions according to polarity and the type of functionality. Column temperature and gradient manipulation are shown to influence chromatographic resolution and retention. The HT-SGIC investigations are complemented by HT-TGIC separations where a solvent mixture of decane and cyclohexanone is used as the mobile phase in isocratic mode. It is shown that HT-SGIC and HT-TGIC provide different types of separation, however, both are predominantly based on differences in functionality. To provide comprehensive information on chemical composition (functionality) and molar mass, HT-SGIC and HT-TGIC are coupled to HT-SEC, using ortho-dichlorobenzene as the second dimension mobile phase. Clear differences between oxidized and nonoxidized waxes are detected in HT-2D-LC providing comprehensive information on the molecular heterogeneity of these materials.

A multidimensional fractionation protocol for the oligomer analysis of oxidized waxes

Oxidized waxes possess far superior properties as compared to the alkanes they are derived from. The separation of alkane oligomers via gas chromatography (GC) becomes a challenge when polar oxygen-containing functional groups are introduced or when higher molar masses are targeted. In the present study, the separation and analysis of oligomers in oxidized and non-oxidized waxes using different liquid chromatographic techniques are investigated. Oligomers in two oxidized waxes and a non-oxidized wax from which they are derived, are separated using high-temperature solvent gradient interaction chromatography (HT-SGIC) and high-temperature two-dimensional liquid chromatography (HT-2D-LC). Evaporative light scattering detector conditions are tailored to provide the best detection with the solvent system at use. It is shown that oligomers in oxidized and non-oxidized waxes can be separated and identified using the mentioned techniques. It has been found that the ELSD detector response systematically decreases as the oxidation levels of the waxes increase. Coupling of HT-HPLC and high-temperature size exclusion chromatography (HT-SEC) in a comprehensive 2D-LC setup shows a broadening of the molar mass distributions of the lower oligomer fractions as a consequence of the modification indicating changes in the oligomer chain microstructures. A preparative fractionation technique is utilized to collect specific oligomer fractions from the bulk waxes followed by hyphenation to HT-HPLC and other techniques. HPLC is shown to provide more detailed information on the oligomer composition of waxes when coupled to a pre-fractionation technique.

Branching and molar mass analysis of low density polyethylene using the multiple preparative fractionation concept

The multiple preparative fractionation concept provides sample libraries with different degrees of branching and different molar masses that are analyzed regarding the LDPE microstructure.

Combination of preparative and two-dimensional chromatographic fractionation with thermal analysis for the branching analysis of polyethylene

Multiple preparative fractionation of LDPE provides molar mass and branching fractions that are analyzed regarding their thermal properties.

Comprehensive analysis of novel grafted polyethylenes using multidimensional fractionation methods

Noval graft copolymers HDPE-g-LDPE were prepared using a dual reactor setup and characterized regarding molar mass, branching and grafting efficiency using a multidimensional analytical approach.

Characterization of charged polymer self-assemblies by multidetector thermal field-flow fractionation in aqueous mobile phases

Charged block copolymer self-assemblies, such as charged micelles, have attracted much attention as versatile drug delivery systems due to their readily tunable characteristics such as size and surface charge. However, current column-based analytical techniques are not suitable to fractionate and comprehensively characterize charged micelles in terms of size, molar mass, chemical composition and morphology. Multidetector thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) is shown to be a unique characterization platform that can be used to characterize charged micelles in terms of size, molar mass, chemical composition and morphology in aqueous mobile phases with various ionic strengths and pH. This is demonstrated by the characterization of poly(methacrylic acid)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) self-assemblies in high pH buffers as well as the characterization of cationic poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene and poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene self-assemblies in low pH buffers. Moreover, it is shown that ThFFF is capable of separating charged micelles according to the corona composition. These investigations prove convincingly that ThFFF is broadly applicable to the comprehensive characterization of amphiphilic self-assemblies even when aqueous mobile phases are used.

Fractionation of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(vinyl pyridine) in aqueous and organic mobile phases by multidetector thermal field-flow fractionation

Multidetector thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) is shown to be a versatile characterisation platform that can be used to characterise hydrophilic polymers in a variety of organic and aqueous solutions with various ionic strengths. It is demonstrated that ThFFF fractionates isotactic and syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) as well as poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) according to microstructure in organic solvents and that the ionic strength of the mobile phase has no influence on the retention behaviour of the polymers. With regard to aqueous solutions, it is shown that, despite the weak retention, isotactic and syndiotactic PMAA show different retention behaviours which can qualitatively be attributed to microstructure. Additionally, it is shown that the ionic strength of the mobile phase has a significant influence on the thermal diffusion of polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions and that the addition of an electrolyte is essential to achieve a microstructure-based separation of P2VP and P4VP in aqueous solutions.

Comprehensive analysis of branched polyethylene: the multiple preparative fractionation concept

A concept for the comprehensive analysis of branched polyethylene is developed where a multiple fractionation protocol is used.