Chromatography multidimensional separation

We have purposely narrowed the scope of all multidimensional chromatography to those techniques that incorporate separations in the liquid phase and to those in which the use of the comprehensive mode prevails but is not exclusive. This text neither incorporates elements of multidimensional thin-layer chromatography, multidimensional separations in gel media such as those commonly employed for the separation of complex mixtures of proteins, nor the techniques that utilize multidimensional gas chromatography. Some of the same principles apply, particularly in the theory section, but our emphasis is strictly on separations carried out in the liquid phase and by columns, rather than in the gas phase or in planar configurations. 

Multidimensional or hyphenated instmments employ two or more analytical instmmental techniques, either sequentially, or in parallel. Hence, one can have multidimensional separations, eg, hplc/gc, identifications, ms/ms, or separations/identifications, such as gc/ms (see CHROMATOGRAPHY Mass spectrometry). The purpose of interfacing two or more analytical instmments is to increase the analytical information while reducing data acquisition time. For example, in tandem-mass spectrometry (ms/ms) (17,18), the first mass spectrometer appHes soft ionization to separate the mixture of choice into molecular ions the second mass spectrometer obtains the mass spectmm of each ion. 

Multidimensional chromatography brings together separations often based on different selectivity mechanisms. Although the forms of the mobile phase are not required to be different in the individual steps of a multidimensional separation, we usually strive to achieve orthogonal selectivity of these individual separation steps (1). 

In thinking about performing multidimensional separations within the framework of unified chromatography, we must think about using all available tuning opportunities to maximize the differences in the separation mechanisms in the successive parts of the process. The following is just one example. 

This chapter will first cover the nature of electrophoretic separations, especially those concerning capillary electrophoresis. Comprehensive multidimensional separations will then be defined, specifically in terms of orthogonality and resolution. The history of planar and non-comprehensive electrodriven separations will then be discussed. True comprehensive multidimensional separations involving chromatography and capillary electrophoresis will be described next. Finally, the future directions of these multidimensional techniques will be outlined. 

Other groups have also used EC and CE to perform non-comprehensive multidimensional separations (15, 16). A three-dimensional separation was performed by Stromqvist in 1994, where size exclusion chromatography (SEC), reverse-phase HPLC, and CZE were used in an off-line manner to separate peptides (17). The most useful information gained from all of these non-comprehensive studies was knowledge of the orthogonality and compatibility of EC and CE. 

Chromatography is the best technique for the separation of complex mixtures. Frequently, samples to be analysed are very complex, so the analyst has to choose more and more sophisticated techniques. Multidimensional separations, off-line and recently on-line, have been used for the analysis of such complex samples. 

There are two general types of multidimensional chromatography separation schemes those in which the effluent from one column flows directly on to a second column at some time during the experiment, and those in which some type of trap exists between the two columns to decouple them (off-line mode). The purpose of a trap is often to allow collection of a fixed eluate volume to reconcentrate the analyte zone prior to the second separation step, or to allow a changeover from one solvent system to another. The use of offline multidimensional techniques (conventional sample cleanup) with incompatible mobile phases, is common in the literature, and replacing these procedures with automated on-line multidimensional separations will require continuous development efforts. 

Principles and Characteristics Multidimensionality in planar chromatography takes a broader context than is common for column separations. For TLC, various modes of multidimensional separations are used ... 

Other reviews of multidimensional separations have been published. These include a book on polymer characterization by hyphenated and multidimensional techniques (Provder et al., 1995), a review on polymer analysis by 2DLC (van der Horst and Schoenmakers, 2003), and two reviews on two-dimensional techniques in peptide and protein separations (Issaq et al., 2005 Stroink et al., 2005). Reviews on multidimensional separations in biomedical and pharmaceutical analysis (Dixon et al. 2006) and multidimensional column selectivity (Jandera, 2006) were recently published. Suggested nomenclature and conventions for comprehensive multidimensional chromatography were published in 2003 (Schoenmakers et al., 2003), and a book chapter in the Advances in Chromatography series on MDLC was published in 2006 (Shalliker and Gray 2006). 

The theoretical work that exploited the advantages of the multidimensional separation format appears to have been developed much later than the original experimental work. One of the earliest studies was conducted by Connors (1974), who assumed that the distribution of spots on a two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (2DTLC) plate could be modeled using a Poisson distribution of data on each retention axis. He then constructed equations that related the number of chromatographic systems needed to resolve a specific number of compounds. One... 

Valentine, S.J., Kulchania, M., Srebalus Barnes, C.A., Clemmer, D.E. (2001). Multidimensional separations of complex peptide mixtures a combined high-performance hquid chromatography/ion mobility/time-of-flight mass spectrometry approach. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 212, 97-109. 

FIGURE 15.3 Outline of experimental protocol used for ICAT differential protein expression profiling. Protein mixtures from two cell populations are labeled with light or heavy isotopic versions of a cleavable ICAT reagent. Labeled proteins are combined, subject to multidimensional separation by SCX, RP, and avidin affinity chromatography, then analyzed by tandem MS for peptide and protein identification. Based on the relative ratio of the two isotopically labeled peptides, a relative abundance of protein expression can be determined. 

Benicka et al. [ 183] used multidimensional gas chromatography to separate the atropisomers of polychlorobiphenyl congeners in extracts of soil. The correct enanatiomeric ratio was determined from the peak areas obtained by deconvolution of the chromatograms. 

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