Spacer-modified stationary phases for anion chromatography: alkyl- and carbonylalkylspacers--a comparison

A comparison of two separation columns for high-capacity anion chromatography is presented. The distinctive feature of both packing materials is the structure of the alkyl-chain (spacer-group) between the polymer-backbone and the functional group. All other parameters, e.g. exchange capacity, functionality and length of the spacer-arm, are identical. The retention behavior of the so-called standard-anions is investigated on both columns under identical chromatographic conditions using an experimental design technique in the course of which the composition of the elution system applied is varied. The statistical treatment of the retention data offers the possibility to explain the different chromatographic behavior of both stationary phases, at least qualitatively.