Polysiloxane-encapsulated stationary phase for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary

Silica beads of 6-μm average diameter were silanized with methylvinyldiethoxysilane and then subjected to encapsulation with poly(methylvinylsiloxane). The resulting product is a new stationary phase for reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) which has superior ability for the separation of polar, non-polar and basic compounds. The chromatographic peaks are symmetric. Its stability has been studied; after continuous use for three months the carbon content and chromatographic behaviour of the phase were unchanged. on to the silica surface to given an uniform organic film. Material prepared in this way has both good chromatographic behaviour and superior selectivity. Because contact of the silica matrix with the mobile phase is avoided, the alkali-resisting ability of the stationary phase is increased. The non-specific adsorption of alkaline solutes on to the silica surface is also avoided because of the complete coverage of surface silanol groups. Reports of stationary phases encapsulated with polystyrene [6], polybutadiene [I] and octadecylsiloxane polymers have recently appeared in the literature [3].

In this paper we report the encapsulation of poly-(methylvinylsiloxane) (analogous to the phase SE-31 often used in GC) on to a silica matrix previously modified with methylvinyldiethoxysilane. The resulting phase has superior performance in reversed-phase HPLC.