Liquid chromatographic retention behavior and separation of chlorophenols on a beta-cyclodextrin bonded-phase column,...

The liquid chromatographic separation of 19 monoaromatic chlorophenols on a beta-cyclodextrin bonded-phase column is investigated in both an isocratic and a gradient elution mode. Even though the isocratic mode can be employed for the separation of the member components of each category of chlorophenols (e.g., mono-, di-, etc.), significant overlaps between the retention times of the various categories prevent the separation of all chlorophenols on a single chromatogram. Gradient elution can be used, however, for the separation of 15 of the 19 chlorophenol isomers. The unique features of gradient elution as applied to beta-cyclodextrin bonded-phase columns are discussed. The detection of chlorophenols with UV and electrochemical methods is also discussed and the two are compared.