New selectivity in electrokinetic chromatography using a polymeric dye as novel separation carrier

Approach to quasi stationary electrokinetic chromatography

A partial filling (PF) electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) system in combination with the application of weak counter pressures was built up by the combination of an UV-active polymeric dye, Poly R-478, used as additive in the separation buffer (SB) zone and an UV-permeable borate background buffer (BB). The electroosmotic flows of the buffers were equalized by matching their ionic strengths to achieve best efficiency. The influence of the pressure for the injection of the separation buffer and the effect of the counter pressure on the breakthrough of the separation buffer zone was investigated. The quasi stationary state of the separation buffer zone was evaluated by recording breakthrough curves. Based on these data the counter pressure was manipulated so that the separation buffer zone became quasi stationary and a large interference-free migration time window results. The system was optimized using a mixture of amino/nitroaromatics as test compounds.

Developments in the use of soluble ionic polymers as pseudo-stationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography and stationary phases for electrochromatography

This article reviews the development, characterization and application of soluble ionic polymeric materials as pseudo-stationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography and as stationary phases for electrochromatography since 1997. Polymeric pseudo-stationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography, including cationic polymers, anionic siloxane and acrylamide polymers, polymerized surfactants (micelle polymers), and chiral polymers are reviewed. Also reviewed are suspended molecularly imprinted polymer micro-particles. Application of polymeric pseudo-stationary phases with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection is presented. Recent progress in the development and characterization of physically adsorbed stationary phases for electrochromatography using polymers of the same or similar chemistry is also reviewed.

(Micellar) electrokinetic chromatography: an interesting solution for the liquid phase separation dilemma

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a well-established method in modern analysis. The method is simple, very robust and is applicable to the majority of components to be analyzed in contrast to gas chromatography. Low efficiency and small peak capacity are sore points of HPLC when complex mixtures have to be separated. The reason for this dilemma is the small diffusion coefficient of the analytes in the liquid mobile phase compared to a gaseous phase. This review, complemented by exemplary calculated data and some latest results of our own research, illustrates the dilemma of liquid phase chromatography to achieve high efficiencies under reasonable conditions. It is shown that (micellar) electrokinetic chromatography, offering fast and efficient separations, is a very promising solution for this dilemma. Additional features of this method are possibilities of on-line analyte concentration, coupling to mass spectrometry and the easy change of selectivities by applying various separation additives. The pros and cons of electrokinetic chromatography are pointed out and some application examples are given.

Study of flow profile distortions and efficiency in counter pressure moderated partial filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography in relation to the relative buffer zone lengths

The influence of the relative buffer zone lengths on the efficiency was investigated in partial filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography using sodium dodecyl sulfate as separation additive. Varying relative zone lengths were obtained by applying identical initial separation zone lengths but different total lengths of the capillaries. Plate numbers of a homologous series of omega-phenylalcohols were measured to indicate the effect of both a changing relative zone length during the run and a counter pressure applied on the cathodic buffer reservoir. The magnitude and the course of these plate numbers are discussed on the basis of models for flow profile superposition and flow profile deformation which are caused by an intersegmental pressure arising at the boundary between the two buffer zones with different electroosmotic flow velocities. Calculation of the intersegmental pressure and of the resulting laminar flow components in the buffer zones on the basis of some equations for electroosmotic and hydrodynamic flow supported the interpretation that a long background buffer zone should be avoided

Effect of pendent group structures on the chemical selectivity and performance of sulfonated copolymers as novel pseudophases in electrokinetic chromatography

Amphiphilic copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) with dihydrocholesteryl acrylate (pDHCHAt) or tert-octyl acrylamide (ptOAm) as comonomers were synthesized, characterized and used as new polymeric pseudostationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography. High-efficiency separations with theoretical plates around 500,000 to 870,000/m were achieved. Linear solvation energy relationships analysis of 20 solutes was performed to investigate the retention mechanism. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were separated under 30% v/v acetonitrile. The separation of nine aromatic model solutes by pDHCHAt showed significantly different selectivity from that of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Although only minor difference in selectivity was found for small aromatic compounds on pDHCHAt and poly(AMPS-lauryl acrylate), significantly different retention mechanism was found for PAHs and n-dodecanophenone comparing both copolymers. Significant chemical selectivity difference was found for selected small aromatic compounds on ptOAm and poly(AMPS-stearyl acrylamide).

Influence of buffer zone concentrations on efficiency in partial filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The potential of counter pressure-moderated partial filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography (PF-MEKC) was investigated in this work. Plate numbers of homologous omega-phenylalcohols were measured in a two-plug PF-MEKC system varying the concentrations and hence the ionic strengths of the background buffer compared to the sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing separation buffer and the counter pressure on the cathodic buffer reservoir. It was observed that plate numbers are strongly influenced by both the buffer concentrations and the counter pressure. Highest plate numbers were obtained with a buffer system where the concentrations are adjusted such that the electroosmotic flow velocities in both zones are equal. Differences in the local electroosmotic flow velocities of the zones caused by different buffer concentrations are responsible for tremendously reduced plate numbers. The efficiency drop is explained in several models by the formation of an intersegmental pressure which produces a parabolically shaped laminar flow component in both zones. Thus, the electroosmotic plug-like flow profile is distorted and the efficiency is reduced. The effect of counter pressure on efficiency turned out to be very complex in dependence on the buffer system applied.

Lonene-coated sulfonated silica as a packing material in the packed-capillary mode of electrochromatography

An aliphatic ionene (2-10-ionene) has been selected as a modifier to prepare a novel polymer-coated packing material for capillary electrochromatography. The packing material was produced by dynamical modification of a commercially available sulfonated silica Exsil-100 SCX. Strong ion-exchange interactions in the capillary packed with ionene-modified sulfonated silica have been demonstrated by the example of the retention of p-aminobenzoic acid. The total calculated anion-exchange capacity of the sorbent in the capillary was about 4 x 10(-9) mol. A fast separation (about 15 min) of several aromatic acids was achieved with the packing material. The highest number of theoretical plates obtained was about 120,000. Limits of detection of the aromatic acids were 2-5 microg/ml. The advantages and lacks of the approach are discussed briefly.

Sulfonated acrylamide copolymers as pseudo-stationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography

Sulfonated copolymers were synthesized, characterized and used as separation media in electrokinetic chromatography. The polymers used were synthesized from AMPS (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and LMAm (lauryl methacrylamide) in different mole ratios (from 100:0 to 60:40). Electrophoretic mobilities and methylene selectivities were calculated, which showed the expected correlation with the monomer ratios. The chemical selectivities for the separation of nine solutes by the copolymers were compared with that of sodium lauryl sulfate micelles, showing significant differences. No significant difference in chemical selectivities was observed for copolymers with different monomer ratios. No significant change of hydrophobic microdomain of copolymers was found in background buffers with different ionic strength values, based on the investigation of the retention factors, methylene selectivities and polymer effective mobilities. No change of hydrophobic microdomain of the copolymer solutions was found at copolymer concentrations from 0.17 to 3% (w/v), however, plots of k' versus polymer concentration suggested a different copolymer phase at lower concentrations (from 0 to 0.1%, w/v) from that at higher concentrations (from 0.17 to 3%, w/v). The copolymer with AMPS-LMAm (80:20) could be chosen as optimum copolymer as far as the methylene selectivity, peak symmetry and polymer mobility were concerned.

Polymeric and polymer-supported pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography: performance and selectivity

Several types of synthetic ionic polymers have been employed as pseudostationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography. The polymers have been shown to have some significant advantages and different chemical selectivity relative to conventional surfactant micelles. Polymeric phases are effective for the separation and analysis of hydrophobic and chiral compounds, and may be useful for the application of mass spectrometric detection. Additionally, the polymeric phases often demonstrate unique selectivity relative to micellar phases, and can be designed and synthesized to provide desired selectivity. This review covers efforts to develop and characterize the performance, characteristics, and selectivity of synthetic polymeric pseudostationary phases since their introduction in 1992. Some ideas for the future development of polymeric pseudostationary phases and the role they may play in electrokinetic separations are presented.

Recent innovation in capillary electrokinetic chromatography with replaceable charged pseudostationary phases or additives

Recent developments of separation of neutral analytes in capillary systems with the mobile phase driven by the electroosmotic flow (EOF) and charged additives acting as a pseudostationary phase are reviewed. As pseudostationary phases a number of additives are used. Soluble polymers, either anionic or cationic, were applied as alternatives to micelles. Monomeric charged additives are also intended to form associates with the analytes, leading to selective retention and separation in a similar way as the polymeric pseudostationary phases. Dendrimers, spherical macromolecules with highly branched chains and charged terminal groups, are successfully applied for the separation of lipophilic analytes. Polymers with covalently stabilized structures are introduced in the form of permanent micelles and are therefore insensitive to the mobile phase composition, enlarging the applicability of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC).