Polymer HPLC nonpolar bonded phase

Similar to other coupled methods of polymer HPLC, for example, LC CC (Section 16.5.2), the choice of the column packing and the mobile phase components for EG-LC depends on the retention mechanism to be used. Adsorption is preferred for polar polymers applying polar column packings, usually bare silica or silica bonded with the polar groups. The eluent strength controls polymer retention (Sections 16.3.2 and 16.3.5). The enthalpic partition is the retention mechanism of choice for the non polar polymers or polymers of low polarity. In this case, similar to the phase separation mechanism, mainly the solvent quality governs the extent of retention (Sections 16.2.2, 16.3.3, and 16.3.7). It is to be reminded that even the nonpolar polymers such as poly(butadiene) may adsorb on the surface of bare silica gel from the very weak mobile phases and vice versa, the polymers of medium polarity such as poly(methyl methacrylate) can be retained from their poor solvents (eluents) due to enthalpic partition within the nonpolar alkyl-bonded phases. 

The silica gel-based column packings are the active materials of choice for polymer HPLC employing both exclusion and interaction retention mechanisms. These are either bare or bonded with various groups. C-18 alkyls and -CH2-CH2-CH2-NH2 groups are most popular for reversed-phase and normal-phase procedures of polymer HPLC employing the nonpolar and polar interactions, respectively. 

To sununarize, the enthalpic partition processes in the colnmns for polymer HPLC substantially differ from the adsorption processes. Enthalpic partition on the alkyl-bonded phases can be employed for separation of not oidy nonpolar macromolecules but also of the low- to medium- polarity polymers. The extent of the enthalpic partition and consequently also resulting polymer retention is con-... 

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