Gradient elution, optimization

The method was proposed for the approximate prediction of the retention of analytes in gradient elution and for the facilitation of the development of optimal gradient elution strategy [86], This prediction and optimization procedure is similar to those discussed above, consequently, its application in the field of RP-HPLC analysis of natural pigment may be similar. 

Except for optimizing gradient elution methods, which is a very important parameter in chromatographic analysis, another parameter of great significance is the mixing of the mobile-phase components. 

Remedy, highly specific detection, derivatization (see Section 19.8), coupling with spectroscopic methods (Section 6.10), optimized gradient elution (Sections 18.2 and 18.5) or column switching (multidimensional separation. Sections 18.3 and 18.4). 

A separation involving a mobile phase of constant composition (irrespective of the number of components it contains) is termed isocratic elution, while that in which the composition of the mobile phase is changed is termed gradient elution. In the latter, a mobile phase is chosen which provides adequate separation of the early eluting analytes and a solvent which is known to elute the longer-retained compounds is added over a period of time. The rate at which the composition is changed may be determined by trial and error , or more formal optimization techniques may be used [5-7]. 

Use of 10 pm LiChrosorb RP18 column and binary eluent of methanol and aqueous 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 4.0) according to suitable gradient elution program in less than 20-min run time with satisfactory precision sensitivity of spectrophotometric detection optimized, achieving for all additives considered detection limits ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 mg/1, below maximum permitted levels Simultaneous separation (20 min) of 14 synthetic colors using uncoated fused silica capillary column operated at 25 kV and elution with 18% acetonitrile and 82% 0.05 M sodium deoxycholate in borate-phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), recovery of all colors better than 82%... 

The popularity of reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPC) is easily explained by its unmatched simplicity, versatility and scope [15,22,50,52,71,149,288-290]. Neutral and ionic solutes can be separated simultaneously and the rapid equilibration of the stationary phase with changes in mobile phase composition allows gradient elution techniques to be used routinely. Secondary chemical equilibria, such as ion suppression, ion-pair formation, metal complexatlon, and micelle formation are easily exploited in RPC to optimize separation selectivity and to augment changes availaple from varying the mobile phase solvent composition. Retention in RPC, at least in the accepted ideal sense, occurs by non-specific hydrophobic interactions of the solute with the... 

The remainder of this section deals primarily with selectivity optimization in isocratic liquid chromatography and with gradient elution Before entering these subjects proper, however, a discussion of the relevant chromatographic properties of solvents is in order as a framework for the intuitive selection of the preferred solvent or solvent mixtures for selectivity optimization. 

Stadalius, M. A., Gold, H. S., and Snyder, L. R., Optimization model for the gradient elution separation of peptide mixtures by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Verification of retention relationships, /. Chromatogr., 296, 31, 1984. 

Jandera, P, Predictive calcluation methods for optimization of gradient elution using binary and ternary solvent gradients, /. Chromatogr., 485, 113, 1989. 

Second-dimension elution time range The second-dimension elution time range must be determined. The flow rate needs to be optimized for maximum resolution and speed. This will establish the performance of the second dimension. The elution time range can be tuned with either gradient elution and/or by flow rate to determine the sampling rate. 

There are several types of RI detector, all of which monitor the difference between a reference stream of mobile phase and the column effluent. Any solute whose presence alters the refractive index of the pure solvent will be detected, but sensitivity is directly proportional to the difference between the refractive index of the solute and that of the solvent. At best they are two orders of magnitude less sensitive than UV/visible detectors. All RI detectors are highly temperature-sensitive, and some designs incorporate heat exchangers between column and detector to optimize performance. They cannot be used for gradient elution because of the difficulty in matching the refractive indices of reference and sample streams. 

Amino acids are separated in their native form on a sulphonated polystyrene resin using a system of sodium or lithium based buffers. Separation is effected by stepwise, rather than gradient elution, and the chromatography can be further optimized by carefully controlling the temperature of the analytical column. 

Also in this case the calculated (predicted) retention values showed good agreement with the experimental results. It has been concluded that pH gradient elution may enhance the separation efficacy of RP-HPLC systems when one or more analyses contain dissociable molecular parts [81]. As numerous natural pigments and synthetic dyes contain ioniz-able groups, the calculations and theories presented in [80] and [81] and discussed above may facilitate the prediction of the effect of mobile phase pH on their retention, and consequently may promote the rapid selection of optimal chromatographic conditions for their separation. 

Natural extracts generally contain molecules with highly different retention characteristics which cannot be separated under isocratic conditions. The application of gradient elution is a necessity for these types of natural samples. However, the optimization of gradient elution on the base of isocratic data is cumbersome and the prediction of retention in gradient elution from isocratic data is difficult. Retention in an isocratic system can be described by a polynomial function ... 

The method has been proposed for the prediction of retention data in isocratic systems from data measured in gradient elution and vice versa [84], Similar calculation methods may be very important in the analysis of natural extracts containing pigments with highly different chemical structure and retention characteristics. The calculations make possible the rational design of optimal separation conditions with a minimal number of experimental runs. 

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