Resolution of columns

The resolution of capillary columns enables the separation of all principal components of a straight-run gasoline. The most frequently used stationary phases are silicone-based, giving an order of hydrocarbon elution times close to the order of increasing boiling point. 

Equations 12.21 and 12.22 contain terms corresponding to column efficiency, column selectivity, and capacity factor. These terms can be varied, more or less independently, to obtain the desired resolution and analysis time for a pair of solutes. The first term, which is a function of the number of theoretical plates or the height of a theoretical plate, accounts for the effect of column efficiency. The second term is a function of a and accounts for the influence of column selectivity. Finally, the third term in both equations is a function of b, and accounts for the effect of solute B s capacity factor. Manipulating these parameters to improve resolution is the subject of the remainder of this section. 

Use of column selectivity to improve chromatographic resolution showing (a) the variation in retention time with mobile phase pH, and (b) the resulting change in alpha with mobile phase pH. 

If the capacity factor and a are known, then equation 12.21 can be used to calculate the number of theoretical plates needed to achieve a desired resolution (Table 12.1). For example, given a = 1.05 and kg = 2.0, a resolution of 1.25 requires approximately 24,800 theoretical plates. If the column only provides 12,400 plates, half of what is needed, then the separation is not possible. How can the number of theoretical plates be doubled The easiest way is to double the length of the column however, this also requires a doubling of the analysis time. A more desirable approach is to cut the height of a theoretical plate in half, providing the desired resolution without changing the analysis time. Even better, if H can be decreased by more than... 

This method uses a short, packed column that generally produces a poor resolution of chromatographic peaks. The liquid-liquid extraction used to extract the trihalomethanes is nonselective. Besides the trihalomethanes, a wide range of nonpolar and polar organic constituents, such as benzene and... 

The chromatogram in Problem 4 was obtained on a 2-m column with a column dead time of 50 s. How long a column is needed to achieve a resolution of 1.5 What height of a theoretical plate is needed to achieve a resolution of 1.5 without increasing the length of the column ... 

Gas—hquid chromatography is used extensively to determine the naphthalene content of mixtures. Naphthalene can be separated easily from thionaphthene, the methyl- and dimethylnaphthalenes, and other aromatics. Analysis of the various other impurities may require the use of high resolution capillary columns. 

Three general methods exist for the resolution of enantiomers by Hquid chromatography (qv) (47,48). Conversion of the enantiomers to diastereomers and subsequent column chromatography on an achiral stationary phase with an achiral eluant represents a classical method of resolution (49). Diastereomeric derivatization is problematic in that conversion back to the desired enantiomers can result in partial racemization. For example, (lR,23, 5R)-menthol (R)-mandelate (31) is readily separated from its diastereomer but ester hydrolysis under numerous reaction conditions produces (R)-(-)-mandehc acid (32) which is contaminated with (3)-(+)-mandehc acid (33). 

Achiral Columns Together with Chiral Mobile Phases. Ligand-exchange chromatography for chiral separation has been introduced (59), and has been appHed to the resolution of several a-amino acids. Prior derivatization is sometimes necessary. Preparative resolutions are possible, but the method is sensitive to small variations in the mobile phase and sometimes gives poor reproducibiUty. 

Resolution of Optical Isomers), Gakkai Shuppan Senta, Tokyo, Japan, 1989, Chapt. 11, pp. 132—143 Chiral HPLC columns are available from Regis, Spelco, and AST in the United States Merck, Nagel, and Serva in Germany LKB in Sweden and Daisem, Sumitomo, and Toso in Japan. 

Retention and stereoselectivity on the BSA columns can be changed by the use of additives to the aqueous mobile phase (30). Hydrophobic compounds generally are highly retained on the BSA, and a mobile-phase modifier such as 1-propanol can be added to obtain reasonable retention times. The retention and optical resolution of charged solutes such as carboxyUc acids or amines can be controlled by pH and ionic strength of the mobile phase. 

Appllca.tlons. MCA is used for the resolution of many classes of chiral dmgs. Polar compounds such as amines, amides, imides, esters, and ketones can be resolved (34). A phenyl or a cycloalkyl group near the chiral center seems to improve chiral selectivity. Nonpolar racemates have also been resolved, but charged or dissociating compounds are not retained on MCA. Mobile phases used with MCA columns include ethanol and methanol. 

Synthetic chiral adsorbents are usually prepared by tethering a chiral molecule to a silica surface. The attachment to the silica is through alkylsiloxy bonds. A study which demonstrates the technique reports the resolution of a number of aromatic compoimds on a 1- to 8-g scale. The adsorbent is a silica that has been derivatized with a chiral reagent. Specifically, hydroxyl groups on the silica surface are covalently boimd to a derivative of f -phenylglycine. A medium-pressure chromatography apparatus is used. The racemic mixture is passed through the column, and, when resolution is successful, the separated enantiomers are isolated as completely resolved fiactions. Scheme 2.5 shows some other examples of chiral stationary phases. 

Fig. 2.4. Preparative chromatographic resolution of 5 g of )/-phenyl-)>-butyrolactone on 480 g of CTA I (column 5 cm x 60 cm). [Reproduced from Helv. Chim. Acta 70 1569 (1987) by permission of Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta, A.G.]...

Recalling that a separation is achieved by moving the solute bands apart in the column and, at the same time, constraining their dispersion so that they are eluted discretely, it follows that the resolution of a pair of solutes is not successfully accomplished by merely selective retention. In addition, the column must be carefully designed to minimize solute band dispersion. Selective retention will be determined by the interactive nature of the two phases, but band dispersion is determined by the physical properties of the column and the manner in which it is constructed. It is, therefore, necessary to identify those properties that influence peak width and how they are related to other properties of the chromatographic system. This aspect of chromatography theory will be discussed in detail in Part 2 of this book. At this time, the theoretical development will be limited to obtaining a measure of the peak width, so that eventually the width can then be related both theoretically and experimentally to the pertinent column parameters. 

Equation (16) was first developed by Purnell [3] in 1959 and is extremely important. It can be used to calculate the efficiency required to separate a given pair of solutes from the capacity factor of the first eluted peak and their separation ratio. It is particularly important in the theory and practice of column design. In the particular derivation given here, the resolution is referenced to (Ra) the capacity ratio of the first... 

To realistically evaluate the effect of extra-column dispersion on column performance, it is necessary to evaluate the maximum extra-column dispersion that can be tolerated by different types of columns. Such data will indicate the level to which dispersion in the detector and its associated conduits must be constrained to avoid abrogating the chromatographic resolution. 

However, any given column operated at a specific flow rate will exhibit a range of efficiencies depending on the nature and capacity ratio of the solute that is chosen for efficiency measurement. Consequently, under exceptional circumstances, the predicted conditions for the separation of the critical pair may not be suitable for another pair, and the complete resolution of all solutes may still not be obtained. 

An expression for the maximum charge that can be placed on a column without impairing resolution has already been derived, but the approach, when dealing with an overloaded column for preparative purpose, will be quite different. For preparative purposes the phase system is chosen to provide the maximum separation of the solute of interest from its nearest neighbor. It should be pointed out that the separation may, but probably will not, involve the closest eluting pair in the mixture. Consequently, the maximum resolving power of the column will not be required for the purpose of separation and the excess resolution of the solute of interest from its nearest neighbor can be used to increase the column load. 

The technique of column overloading is only feasible if more than adequate resolution is possible between the solute of interest and its nearest neighbor. Many samples require a column to be constructed that will only just separate the solutes of interest and under these circumstances the loading capacity must be increased without overloading the column. It has been shown in earlier chapters that the maximum sample (mass or volume) that can be placed on a column is proportional to the plate volume of the column and the square root of its efficiency. Thus, the maximum sample mass (M) will be given by... 

FIGURE 2.6 Resolvability of SEC. The molecular mass ratio needed for the complete resolution of solutes of various shapes as a function of column plate number. The influence of pore volume is given by the designations (Ip), which stands for low porous for which Vp/Vo is 0.7S, and (hp), which stands for highly porous for which Vp/Vp is typically 2.0. [Reproduced from Hagel (1993), with permission.]... 

---