RI-Detector

The composition of PPG—PEG blends has been determined using gpc with coupled density and RI detectors. PEG and PPG have different response factors for the density and RI detectors which were exploited (173). An hplc system with CHROMPAC RP-18C2g column at 298°C and acetonitrile—water or methanol—water as the mobile phase has been used to gather information about the functionaUty of PPO (174). 

Another classification of detector is the bulk-property detector, one that measures a change in some overall property of the system of mobile phase plus sample. The most commonly used bulk-property detector is the refractive-index (RI) detector. The RI detector, the closest thing to a universal detector in lc, monitors the difference between the refractive index of the effluent from the column and pure solvent. These detectors are not very good for detection of materials at low concentrations. Moreover, they are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. 

Refractive index detectors. These bulk property detectors are based on the change of refractive index of the eluant from the column with respect to pure mobile phase. Although they are widely used, the refractive index detectors suffer from several disadvantages — lack of high sensitivity, lack of suitability for gradient elution, and the need for strict temperature control ( + 0.001 °C) to operate at their highest sensitivity. A pulseless pump, or a reciprocating pump equipped with a pulse dampener, must also be employed. The effect of these limitations may to some extent be overcome by the use of differential systems in which the column eluant is compared with a reference flow of pure mobile phase. The two chief types of RI detector are as follows. 

A typical application of the RI detector is in carbohydrate analysis. Carbohydrates do not adsorb in the UV, do not ionize and although fluorescent derivatives can be made, the procedure is tedious. Consequently, the RI detector can be ideal for detecting such materials and an example of such an application is shown in figure 18. 

Two further examples of similar types of analyses using the RI detector is afforded by the separation of the products of P-cyclodextrin hydrolysis and of the partial hydrolysis of galaction. 

The separation of the hydrolysates of galaction affords a further example of the use of the RI detector for organic polymers. The... 

The second most widely used detector in HPLC is the differential refractometer (RI). Being a bulk property detector, the RI responds to all substances. As noted in Table 3 the detection limits are several orders of magnitude higher than obtained with the UV detector. Thus, one turns to the RI detector in those cases in which substances are non-UV active, e.g. lipids, prostaglandins. In addition, the RI detector finds use in preparative scale operation. Finally, relative to the UV detector, the RI is significantly more temperature and flow sensitive and cannot be used in gradient elution. 

The degree of conversion of the reactant and the concentration of oxidised products were carefully monitored by HPLC analysis. Sample components were separated on an ion-exchange column (Sarasep Car-H, 300mm x 7.8mm i.d.) using a 0.0004M H2SO4 mobile phase and detected by UV and RI detectors mounted in series. 

Many different detectors are used in RPLC, including ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometers (UV-VIS), refractive index (RI) detectors, electrochemical (EC) detectors, evaporative light-scattering detectors, fluorimeters, and... 

Figure 4.20 Size-exclusion chromatogram of SBR adhesive formulation in THF using UV and RI detectors. After Alfredson and Tschida [760]. Reproduced by permission of Varian, Inc.

Molecular Weight. Molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on a chromatographic system consisting of a Perkin-Elmer Model 410 pump, a Waters Model 410 RI detector, and a Perkin-Elmer Model 3600... 

Because nonane has the same ri as that of the mobile phase, the response of the ri detector to nonane would be zero. 

Refractive index detectors are not as sensitive as uv absorbance detectors. The best noise levels obtainable are about 1CT7 riu (refractive index units), which corresponds to a noise equivalent concentration of about 10-6 g cmT3 for most solutes. The linear range of most ri detectors is about 104. If you want to operate them at their highest sensitivity you have to have very good control of the temperature of the instrument and of the composition of the mobile phase. Because of their sensitivity to mobile phase composition it is very difficult to do gradient elution work, and they are generally held to be unsuitable for this purpose. 

Ultraviolet spectroscopy is not as useful in detecting the -NC function. Despite its limitation, coeluting isothiocyano compounds are UV active ( 250 nm, e 1200) [27c]. Thus, a UV monitor can be interfaced with an LH-20 or silica column to detect column fractions containing -NCS compounds. Final resolution of enriched mixtures of previously fractionated isonitrile-related compounds is achieved by examining the responses generated by UV and RI detectors coupled in liquid chromatography. 

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. 

An ELSD converts the HPLC eluent into a particle stream and measures the scattered radiation. It offers universal detection for nonvolatile or semivolatile compounds and has higher sensitivity than the RI detector (in the low ng range) in addition to being compatible with gradient analysis. ELSD is routinely used in combinatorial screening. Response factors are less variable than that of other detectors. An ELSD consists of a nebulizer equipped with a constant temperature drift tube where a counter-current of heated air or nitrogen reduces the HPLC eluent into a fine stream of analyte particles. A laser or a polychromatic beam intersects the particle stream, and the scattered radiation is amplified by a photomultiplier. Manufacturers include Alltech, Polymer Laboratories, Shimadzu, Waters, Sedere, and ESA. 

It is also known as RI-Detector and Refractmeter . Figure 30.9, represents the block-diagram of a refractive-index detector. 

However, samples that have no UV absorbance, exist in ionic form, or require structural information have to couple with other types of detectors. Refractive index (RI) detector is almost a universal detector in that it responds to almost any solute (UV-absorbing molecules, sugars,... 

---