Preparation and performance of a poly(ethyleneimine) embedded N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine mixed-mode stationary phase for HPLC

• Published in: Microchemical journal Vol. 157; p. 105021
• Main Authors: Wan, Meijun, Luo, Qiurong, Ren, Xiujun, Zheng, Yunchao, Gao, Die, Fu, Qifeng, Zu, Fengjiao, Xia, Zhining, Wang, Lujun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Mixed-mode stationary phase; N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine; Poly(ethyleneimine); Reversed phase/hydrophilic interaction/ion exchange; Reversed phase/hydrophilic interaction/ion exchange; Mixed-mode stationary phase; N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine; Poly(ethyleneimine)
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2020.105021

•Novel poly(ethyleneimine) embedded N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine mixed-mode stationary phase was synthesized.•The prepared column has the ability for separation of chiral compounds.•The prepared column can perform RPLC, HILIC and IEC separation modes. Poly(ethyleneimine) and N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine were bonded on the surface of activated silica to prepare a new multifunctional polar embedded stationary phase material named Sil-PEI-APH. The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis (EA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Then the synthesized material was loaded into the empty column tube by high pressure driving homogenization method and used as mixed-mode chromatography involving mechanisms of reversed-phase (RPLC), hydrophilic (HILIC) and ion exchange interactions (IEC). Based on these interactions, successful separation could be achieved among several groups of aromatic compounds with different polarities. In detail, the separations of alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), biphenyl isomers and flavonoids were achieved in RPLC mode. Nucleotides/nucleosides were separated in HILIC mode. Additionally, phenols, benzoic acids were separated successfully in IEC mode. The separation of anilines depended on the various separation modes. Investigations about effects of mobile phase constitution and pH on retention further demonstrated the mixed-mode retention mechanisms of the column. Meanwhile, chiral resolution ability was proved by separation of warfarin as model analyte. In a word, the developed stationary phase exhibited multiple performances and the separations for types of analytes were thus achieved.