Experimental and theoretical investigation of high- concentration elution bands in ion-pair chromatography

The effective separation of many solutes, including pharmaceuticals, can be performed using an ion-pair reagent (IPR) in the mobile phase. However, chromatographic separation and mathematical modelling are a challenge in ionpair chromatography (IPC), especially in preparative mode, due to the complicated chromatographic process. In this study, we present a retention mechanism and a mathematical model that predict overloaded concentration profiles in IPC using a system with X-Bridge C18 as stationary phase and tetrabutylammonium bromide in the 0 - 15 mM concentration range as the IPR. Two different mobile phases were used: (i) 15/85 [v/v] acetonitrile/water, (ii) 25/75 methanol/water. The model compounds were sodium salts of organic compounds with sulfonic acid functions. The analytical and preparative elution profiles were obtained for specified conditions. The analytical data were utilized to calculate the difference in electrical potential between the surface and bulk solution using firm electrostatic theory. In the preparative mode in a certain range of IPR concentrations, complicated U-shaped overloaded profiles were observed. In the other considered cases, Langmuir overloaded elution profiles were recorded. A multilayer adsorption model was derived, which is consistent with the dynamic ion exchange models. The model assumes that lipophilic IPR adsorbs on the stationary phase, creating charged active sites that serve as exchange sites for the solutes. The molecules of the solute can adsorb on the already formed IPR layer. It was also assumed that a subsequent layer of solute can form on the formed layer of complexes due to interactions between the solute molecules. The model takes into account the electrostatic attraction and repulsion of the molecules, depending on the considered situation. The proposed model allowed prediction of the overloaded concentration profiles with very good agreement for the model solute and followed the progression from Langmuirian, through U-shaped, to again Langmuirian profiles.