Normal-phase gradient polymer elution chromatography

PhUipsen HJA, Claessens HA, Bosman M, Klumperman B, German AL. Normal phase gradient polymer elution chromatography of polyester resins. Chromatographia 1998 ... 

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques are widely used for separation of phenolic compounds. Both reverse- and normal-phase HPLC methods have been used to separate and quantify PAs but have enjoyed only limited success. In reverse-phase HPLC, PAs smaller than trimers are well separated, while higher oligomers and polymers are co-eluted as a broad unresolved peak [8,13,37]. For our reverse-phase analyses, HPLC separation was achieved using a reverse phase. Cl8, 5 (Jtm 4.6 X 250 mm column (J. T. Baker, http //www.mallbaker.com/). Samples were eluted with a water/acetonitrile gradient, 95 5 to 30 70 in 65 min, at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The water was adjusted with acetic acid to a final concentration of 0.1%. All mass spectra were acquired using a Bruker Esquire LC-MS equipped with an electrospray ionization source in the positive mode. 

Many applications have been found for reversed-phase chromatography in HPLC. The composition of the stationary phase is more easily controlled than with the TLC methods, and thus provides more reproducible separations. The use of bonded non-polar phases enables gradient elution to be carried out in a reversed-phase system. This approach has been useful for the analysis of polar compounds and gives improved separations compared with normal-phase HPLC. These methods usually involve separation with systems consisting of Carbowax, C -polymer or similar phases bonded or physically coated on the support. 

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