Prospects of using hyperbranched stationary phase based on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) in mixed-mode chromatography.

Evaluation of the chromatographic properties of covalently bonded hyperbranched stationary phase based on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) and containing zwitterionic fragments in the structure of functional layer was conducted in suppressed ion chromatography (IC), reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC), and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) modes. Besides the possibility of resolving 20 inorganic anions and organic acids using KOH eluent in suppressed IC, prepared resin provided the separation of alkylbenzenes in RP HPLC, water-soluble vitamins, amino acids, and sugars in HILIC mode. Trends in the retention of hydrophobic and polar analytes on the prepared stationary phase indicated the dominating effect of analyte nature on the retention mechanism and proved satisfactory hydrophilization of PS-DVB surface with hyperbranched functional layer for retaining polar compounds. The obtained results revealed good prospects of using hydrophobic PS-DVB substrate for preparing stationary phases for mixed-mode chromatography.

Manipulating selectivity of covalently-bonded hyperbranched anion exchangers toward organic acids. Part IV: General algorithm based on the variation of external part of the functional layer.

Novel anion exchangers with mono- and dialkanolamines in the external part of covalently-bonded hyperbranched functional layer were synthesized. Comparison of the chromatographic properties of the prepared stationary phases in suppressed ion chromatography (IC) mode using hydroxide eluent allowed us to evaluate the effect of the number of substituents at nitrogen atom in alkanolamine on selectivity of anion exchangers toward organic acids. Obtained anion exchangers were also examined together with previously described hyperbranched stationary phases with different mono- and diamines in the external part of the layer for evaluating the influence of various parameters on their selectivity. Effects of hydrophilicity, functionality of amine, and the number of substituents at nitrogen atom of amine used in the last modification cycle were established independently from each other, which provided the possibility to tailor selectivity toward organic acids when preparing anion exchanger for solving particular analytical task. Predominance of hydrophilicity as a key factor affecting the separation of weakly retained organic acids over other studied parameters was demonstrated.

Quantification of inorganic anions and organic acids in apple and orange juices using novel covalently-bonded hyperbranched anion exchanger with improved selectivity.

Chromatographic analysis of orange and apple juices is provided using novel covalently-bonded poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)-based (PS-DVB) hyperbranched anion exchanger for suppressed ion chromatography (IC) with improved selectivity toward inorganic anions and organic acids. The obtained stationary phase provides baseline resolution of weakly retained organic acids such as glycolate, acetate, lactate, and formate, which are not separated to baseline with modern commercially available anion exchangers. The proposed method is validated with respect to linearity, recovery, limits of detection, and intra-day and inter-day precision.

Novel polymer-based anion-exchangers with covalently-bonded functional layers of quaternized polyethyleneimine for ion chromatography.

For the first time novel pellicular anion-exchangers with functional layers of quaternized branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) covalently bonded to the surface of aminated poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (1,4-BDDGE) as a linker are obtained and studied. The proposed method of synthesis includes alkylation of PS-DVB substrate containing secondary aminogroups with 1,4-BDDGE followed by amination with branched PEI containing primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups. Quaternization of amino groups of PEI required for increasing ion-exchange capacity of the stationary phase is provided with two epoxides - glycidol and 1,4-BDDGE, which results in the considerable variations of ion-exchange selectivity. Chromatographic properties of the obtained anion-exchangers are evaluated using various model mixtures of anions (F-, HCOO-, CH3COO-, C2H5COO-, Cl-, BrO3-, NO2-, Br-, NO3-, ClO3-, S2O32-, C2O42-, CrO42-, SO42-, PO43-, I-, SCN-) in hydroxide and carbonate/bicarbonte eluents. All anion-exchangers show better selectivity toward the anions of weakly retained organic acids (acetate, formate, propionate) as compared with previously reported chemically derivatized anion-exchangers with monomeric functional sites in the ion-exchange layer. In terms of separation abilities, novel anion-exchangers with covalently-bonded PEI are not inferior to some commercial columns with grafted polymeric anion-exchange layer. Anion-exchanger quaternized with more hydrophilic glycidol packed in 10-cm long column enables the separation of 16 anions including weakly retained and highly retained polarizable ones within 26 min using gradient elution. Column efficiencies for both anion-exchangers with quaternized PEI are up to 32000 N/m and 37000 N/m in case of hydroxide and carbonate eluent, respectively, which is comparable with the values demonstrated by commercially available columns of related chemistry.

Covalently-bonded hyperbranched poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)-based anion exchangers for ion chromatography.

A number of covalently-bonded hyperbranched poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)-based (PS-DVB) anion exchangers having functional ion exchange layers of different branching degrees are prepared and investigated. The attachment of the hyperbranched functional layers to the substrate surface is realized via anchor secondary amino groups inserted into the polymeric backbone by means of acylation with acetic anhydride followed by reductive amination with methylamine. Further modification of the obtained secondary amino groups is provided by repeating the steps of alkylation with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (1,4-BDDGE) and amination of the terminal epoxide rings with methylamine (MA). The variation of the number of cycles including modification with 1,4-BDDGE and MA results in selectivity alterations for the obtained anion exchangers. Chromatographic parameters of the obtained stationary phases are evaluated using the model mixtures of anions (F-, HCOO-, Cl-, EtCOO-, BrO3-, NO2-, Br-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43-) with hydroxide and carbonate/bicarbonate eluents. The anion exchangers show the increase of NO2-/EtCOO- and NO2-/BrO3- selectivity and the decrease of EtCOO-/Cl- selectivity with increasing the number of modification cycles. In case of anion exchanger obtained after three modification cycles, the calculated values of column efficiencies for polarizable NO2- and Br- are up to 18,000 and 16,000N/m, respectively.

Preparation and chromatographic performance of polymer-based anion exchangers for ion chromatography: A review.

In the last decade the developments in the field of ion chromatography (IC) were aimed at increasing the efficiency, sensitivity and rapidity of analysis, as well as on improving separation selectivity. Since selectivity and efficiency to the large extent depend on the surface chemistry of the stationary phase, the development of novel anion exchangers remains one of the priority tasks in modern IC. The exact chemistry of commercially available resins is not known and not many literature data devoted to the procedures of preparing anion exchangers for IC have become available in the last 10-15 years. However, the knowledge about the surface chemistry of anion exchangers can provide understanding of the trends in selectivity and efficiency changes, as well as help with the choice of the stationary phase type suitable for solving a particular analytical task. The current review is devoted to the methods of preparing anion exchangers based on polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) and ethylvinylbenzene-divinylbenzene (EVB-DVB) for IC of inorganic and small organic anions and is aimed at demonstrating the improvement of their performance over the years, which was brought by the development of the new types of stationary phase architecture.

Anion exchangers with branched functional ion exchange layers of different hydrophilicity for ion chromatography.

Novel polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) based anion exchangers differing from each other in the structure of the branched functional ion exchange layer are prepared to investigate the role of linker and functional site on ion exchange selectivity. The proposed method of synthesis includes the obtaining of aminated PS-DVB particles by means of their acylation with following reductive amination with methylamine. Further modification of the obtained secondary aminogroups is provided by the alkylation with either 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (1,4-BDDGE) or resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE), which form the linkers of different hydrophobicity, and amination of terminal epoxide rings with trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylethanolamine (DMEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). The variation of the structure and hydrophobicity of the linker and terminal quaternary ammonium sites in the functional layer allows the alteration of selectivity and separation efficiency of the obtained adsorbents. The ion exchange selectivity and separation efficiency of the anion exchangers are evaluated using the model mixtures of anions (F(-), HCOO(-), Cl(-), NO2(-), Br(-), NO3(-), HPO4(2-) and SO4(2-)) in potassium hydroxide eluents. The adsorbents show the decrease of selectivity with increasing the hydrophilicity of the terminal functional site. The anion exchangers having more flexible and hydrophilic 1,4-BDDGE linker provide smaller separation factors for most of the analytes as compared with RDGE-containing adsorbents with the same terminal ion exchange sites, but are characterized with higher column efficiencies and better peak symmetry for polarizable anions. In case of 1,4-BDDGE-modified anion exchangers of the particle size of 3.3µm functionalized with DMEA and MDEA the calculated values of column efficiencies for polarizable NO3(-) and Br(-) are up to 49,000 and 53,000N/m, respectively, which is almost twice higher than the values obtained for the RDGE-containing analogues.

Preparation and characterisation of anion exchangers with dihydroxy-containing alkyl substitutes in the quaternary ammonium functional groups.

Novel poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) based anion exchangers having one and two (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) substitutes in the quaternary ammonium functional groups are prepared and characterised by ion chromatography (IC). The introduction of bulky and hydrophilic substitutes to the anion-exchange groups allows the elimination of non-ionic interactions between the polarisable anions and the aromatic rings from the matrix and the improvement of separation selectivity as compared with the traditional trimethylammonium (TMA) functionalised ion exchangers. The synthesis of the ion exchangers includes acylation of PS-DVB particles with acetic anhydride followed by reductive amination either with methylamine hydrochloride or dimethylamine and further alkylation with oxiranes under varied conditions. The ion exchange selectivity and separation efficiency of nine adsorbents having different structure of bonded groups, ion exchange capacity (9-98µequiv.g(-1)) or particle size is studied for model mixture of inorganic anions (F(-), Cl(-), NO2(-), Br(-), NO3(-), HPO4(2-) and SO4(2-)) using carbonate and hydroxide eluents. The adsorbents with more hydrophilic substitutes provided superior columns efficiencies and better peak symmetry as compared with analogues having hydrophobic functional groups. The calculated values of column efficiencies for polarisable NO3(-) and HPO4(2-) are 18,500 and 29,000N/m, respectively, for anion-exchanger, having N-methyl-N',N″-di-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)ammonium groups which is significantly higher than 1800 and 12,000N/m obtained for these anions with anion exchanger bearing TMA functional groups.