Insights into the origin of the separation selectivity with silica hydride adsorbents

In this study, the surface properties of type-B silica have been compared with an unmodified silica hydride phase, a diamond hydride phase and silica hydride phases modified with bidentate anchored octyl (BDC8), bidentate anchored octadecyl (BDC18), phenyl and cholesteryl groups. Atomic distributions of the surface elemental composition of each type of stationary phase were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. For the type-B silica, unmodified silica hydride, diamond hydride as well as BDC18 and cholesteryl silica hydride phases, the increase in carbon contents correlated with more negative surface ζ potential values (R(2) = 0.92). The origin of these more negative ζ potentials has been evaluated with mobile phases up to 100% (v/v) methanol content, with this property attributed to either an increase in the amount of adsorbed hydroxide ions or a decrease in the amount of adsorbed protons on the surfaces modified silica hydride phases of higher carbon content. This property of chemically modified silica hydride phases is in accordance with the unique propensity for hydroxide ions to be preferentially adsorbed onto hydrophobic surfaces of low permittivity and effects due to the specific accumulated water molecules associated with the electrical interfacial double layer of the adsorbent.