Polymethacrylate-based monolithic capillary column with weak cation exchange functionalities for capillary electrochromatography

Polymethacrylate-based monolith with weak cation exchange functionalities was prepared in capillary column (i.d. 100 μm, o.d. 375 μm) by in situ polymerization of butyl methacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate and N-methacryloyl-L-glutamic acid in presence of porogens. The porogen mixture included N,N-dimethyl formamide and phosphate buffer. The preparation procedure of stationary phase contained the synthesis of monomer, silanization of capillary inner wall and in situ polymerization. The use of amino acid based monomer for the monolith synthesis is one of the originalities of this novel approach. N-methacryloyl-L-glutamic acid has two carboxyl functionalities. The separation of the solutes were performed at different acetonitrile/phosphate buffer and acetonitrile/sodium hydroxide contents. The applied voltage for the alkyl benzenes was changed between +5 and +30 kV. CEC separations of alkyl benzenes, acidic, basic, phenolic and some polycylic aromatic compounds were succesfully performed under capillary-electrochromatography mode with cathodic electroosmotic flow.