Light scattering absorbance/refractive index detection

Detectability may be a significant problem with homologous series of unsaturated compounds, particularly //-alkanes. For these compounds, refractive index detection or evaporative light-scattering, both of which are described elsewhere in the book, may be of use. Indirect photometry is a useful detection scheme for compounds that do not absorb in the UV. Acetone, methylethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and acetophenone are added to an acetonitrile/water mobile phase, generating a negative vacancy peak when the nonchro-mophoric analyte emerges and a positive peak if the ketone is adsorbed and displaced.70 Dodecyl, tetradecyl, cetyl, and stearyl alcohols also have been derivatized with 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole and the derivatives separated on Zorbax ODS in a mobile phase of methanol and 2-propanol.71... 

Detection is also frequently a key issue in polymer analysis, so much so that a section below is devoted to detectors. Only two detectors, the ultra-violet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS) and the differential refractive index (DRI), are commonly in use as concentration-sensitive detectors in GPC. Many of the common polymer solvents absorb in the UV, so UV detection is the exception rather than the rule. Refractive index detectors have improved markedly in the last decade, but the limit of detection remains a common problem. Also, it is quite common that one component may have a positive RI response, while a second has a zero or negative response. This can be particularly problematic in co-polymer analysis. Although such problems can often be solved by changing or blending solvents, a third detector, the evaporative light-scattering detector, has found some favor. 

Current IPC detectors are on-stream monitors. HPLC detectors range from (1) non selective or universal (bulk property detectors such as the refractive index (RI) detector), characterized by limited sensitivity, (2) selective (discriminating solute property detectors such as UV-Vis detectors) to (3) specific (specific solute property detectors such as fluorescence detectors). Traditional detection techniques are based on analyte architecture that gives rise to high absorbance, fluorescence, or electrochemical activity. Mass spectrometry (MS) and evaporative light scattering detectors (ELSDs), can be considered universal types in their own right... 

The equipment widely used for the detection of carbohydrates in the HPLC method is the differential refractive index (RI) detector. The principle involved in this detection depends on the continuous measurement of the variation of the RIs of the mobile phase containing the samples with little or no chromophores such as carbohydrates, lipids, and other polymer compounds that do not absorb UV light. RI detection method presents high degree of reproducibility and is very convenient for the analysis of polysaccharides. However, other detectors such as evaporative light scattering detector and pulsed amperometric detector have been used for the detection of polysaccharides [100]. 

The accuracy of the breakthrough method depends on the ability to detect the surfactant in the mobile phase. A refractive index (RI) detector is most often required since MLC usable surfactants should not absorb UV light. An evaporative light scattering (ELS) detector can also be used successfiilly since most surfactants are solids at room temperature. 

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