L1L2HPLCintro 01

Introduction to High Performance
Liquid Chromatography
1
Klaus Unger, 2007
xxCourse Overview
• Introduction
• Historical perspective
• The HPLC system
• Separation criteria in HPLC
• Separation principles in HPLC
• Transport of solutes through the column
• Separation principles: selective dilution
• Selective retention
• Chromatographic parameters for characterizing separations
• Elution modes in HPLC
• Methodology and instrumentation
• Novel developments and approaches
2
Introduction
Chromatography – is an analytical technique whereby a sample is
separated into its individual components.
During separation the sample components are distributed between a stationary phase and
a mobile phase. After separation the components can be quantified and even identified.
Components
Sample Component A C B A
Stationary phase
Mobile phase Mobile phase
Mobile phase
1. Step – Sample is 3. Step – Sample is
introduced to stationary
phase flow separated into its
individual components
2. Step – Sample is separating into

its individual components
3
Introduction
The major separation modes in

chromatography
Determined by the nature of mobile phase
inert gas liquid supercritical fluid
Gas chromatography Liquid chromatography Supercritical fluid

chromatography
4
Historical perspective
• 1903 Tswett - plant pigments separated on chalk columns

• 1931 Lederer & Kuhn - LC of carotenoids
• 1938 TLC and ion exchange
• 1950 reverse phase LC
• 1954 Martin & Synge (Nobel Prize)
• 1959 Gel permeation
• 1965 instrumental LC (Waters)
5
The term High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was introduced in the
1970’s to distinguish the modern high performance technique from classical low-
pressure column chromatography, developed in the 1930’s.
Classical column chromatography

Stationary phase of large particles
Glass column  poor separation
Mobile phase flow by:
long separation times
Hydrostatic pressure or
Use of a low-pressure pump
High performance liquid chromatography

Stationary phase of small particles
(3-10 µm)  good separation
Mobile phase flow by:  short separation times
Use of a high-pressure pump
Stainless steel
6 column
Progress in HPLC Particle diameter and efficiency

1969-1975
5 µm
10 µm
30 µm
Stat. Phase – Si 60
Sample – Polystyrene MW 600
7
Eluent – n-Heptane-THF 92:8
Improvement in separation efficiency
Year Particle diameter Separation power N/m

Classical LC 100 µm 100
1965 30 µm 10,000
1971 10 µm 30,000
1975 5 µm 60,000
1978 3 µm 100,000
1990 1.5 µm 360,000
8
The HPLC system
Scheme Component Function/feature
Mobile phase reservoir To ensure an adjustable, constant and reproducible

flow of approx. 1.0 ml/min for analytical columns
Pump
Filter To introduce a variable and reproducible sample
Injection valve volume (for instance 5-500 µl) as a narrow
injection band or point injection onto the top of
analytical column
Guard column
Analytical column To reach optimum analyte separation per unit of

time at an acceptable pressure drop and at
(thermostatted) acceptable column life time
High sensitivity, low detection limit, high detector

Detector linearity and long term stability
To require and store data and perform calculations,
Control unit Data acquisition/ to control and adjust operational and control
evaluation system parameters and separation conditions
9
Separation criteria in HPLC
10
• Very applicable to separating substances
– Amino acids
– Proteins
– Nucleic acids
– Carbohydrates
– Terpenoids
– Antibiotics
– Steroids
– Inorganic salts
11
Major HPLC application areas are:

Quality control in industry
Determination of active compounds in drug
research and the pharmaceutical industry
Polymer analysis
Determination of toxic compounds in
environmental analysis
Separation and isolation of biopolymers such as
enzymes and nucleic acids
Quality control in the food and cosmetics industry
12
Separation principles in HPLC
Separation of a mixture of compounds into its individual

components takes place in the analytical column
Schematic drawing of an analytical column
Characteristic parameters for an analytical column are:

Column length L, Column diameter dc,
Average particle diameter dp, Pressure drop Δp
13
xxSeparation principles in HPLC
Volume ratio’s in an analytical column

Void volume
Vvoid = π (dc/2)2 L
V0/Vvoid ~ 0,4 V0 = 40%

Vp/Vvoid ~ 0,4 Vp = 40%
Vs/Vvoid ~ 0,2 Vs = 20%
V0 is the xxxx volume, Vvoid is the xxx volume and Vp vis the pore volume
14
Transport of solutes through the column
Flow profile of a solute, as it is transported

through the column
The sample is introduced onto a column as a sharp

rectangular profile. As the sample plug travels through the
column, the initial rectangular flow profile becomes
parabolic due to the irregular and random flow paths in the
15 interstitial voids between the particles.
Transport of solutes through the column
Processes leading to broadening of the injection profile of a

solute during transport through the column
16
Separation principles: selective dilution
Schematic drawing of the partitioning of a solute between stationary phase

and mobile phase during chromatographic separation
The distribution coefficient K for a particular solute is defined as:

K = cs / c m
where cs is the concentration of the solute in the stationary phase
17 cm is the concentration of the solute in the mobile phase at equilibrium
Selective retention
All solute molecules are transported through the column at the same average
mobile phase flow rate and spend the same amount of time in the mobile phase.
This is defined as the column dead time tm.
Vm – dead volume
Vm = tm fv fm – flow rate (ml/min)
The total time which a solute spends in a column is equal to the sum of the time
spent in the mobile phase tm, and the time spent in the stationary phase ts. This
is defined as the retention time tr.
tr = tm + ts
18
Selective retention
Chromatogram of a sample consisting of 5 compounds

showing a complete separation
19
Selective retention
20
Chromatographic parameters
 The retention time is the time measured from the point of injection to
the maximum point of the retained peak
 The dead time is the time the mobile phase front or an unretained peak
travels through the column, measured from the point of injection until
the time the peak maximum appears in the chromatogram
 The peak height is the distance measured from the base of the peak to
the peak maximum
 The area under an analyte peak is proportional to the concentration of
that analyte
 The peak width is usually measured at half height of the peak
 The peak symmetry factor is calculated by dividing the distance left (a)
and right (b) of the vertical through the peak maximum (b/a)
21
Chromatographic peaks should possess Gaussian profiles in the

optimal case and are characterised by:
• retention time tR
• peak height h
• peak symmetry b/a Peak height h
• standard deviation σ
at 61 % of peak height
• theoretical plate height H
(Peak width)
22
The theoretical plate height is a function of the peak width

and the column length:
H = σ2/L ≈ 2-3 dp
With N = L/H
the theoretical plate height is converted into the dimensionless
parameter N (plate number).
N = 5.54 (t ri/w t,0.5)2

N = 5.54 (V Ri/w t,0.5)2
23
Methods for Plate number determination
24
Chromatographic resolution is influenced by the following terms:
 Selectivity: α - 1
Small changes in a result in large changes in resolution Rs. The value of α is
determined by the phase system
 Retention: k1/(1+k1)
This term influences resolution for small values of k. When k becomes large,
this term approaches the value 1.
 Dispersion: √N1 = √(L/H1)

This term describes the separation efficiency of the column.
25
26
Conclusions:
• Separation is most strongly affected by the selectivity term which depends on the
appropriate choice of the phase system
• Improvement in resolution can be attained by increasing the retention factor.
However, improvement in resolution levels off for increasing k values and for
practical purposes, little improvement in resolution is obtained for k values > 10.
• When the column length is increased by a factor of two, resolution increases only
by a factor of √2 = 1.4
• It is important to keep the theoretical plate height to a minimum. This can be
achieved by using well-packed columns and materials with small particle diameter
27
Optimum resolution of two compounds is achieved

when the chromatogram shows baseline separation
Chromatographic resolution:
a) bad resolution b) optimal resolution c) waste of time
28
Thermodynamics of separation
Distribution of solute I between two immiscible phases x and y
Iy ⇔ Ix
Equilibrium coefficients Kx and Kc
Kx = xx/xy Kc = cx/cy Kc = Kx (Vy/Vx)
xx, xy mole fraction of I in phase x and y

cx, cy molar concentration of I in phase x and y
Vy,Vx molar volume of compounds
29
Thermodynamic distribution constant K0
K0 = ax /ay
ax , ay activity of solute I in phase x and y
RT ln K0 = - Δµ0 = µ0,y - µ0,x
µ0,x , µ 0,y chemical potential of solute I in

phase x and y (standard state)
30
Relationship between Kx and K0

K0 is a function of the chosen state
K0 = γx xx / γ y xy Kx = (γy / γ x ) K0
γy , γ x activity coefficient of I in phase x and y
For the infinite dilution reference state of each phase

one obtains γx = γ y = 1 and Kx = K0
31
ΔG0 = - RT ln K0 = Δµ0
ΔG0 change of standard free energy
Δµ0 = Δh0 - TΔs0
Δh0 , Δs0 change of partial molar enthalpy and

entropy at standard state
32
Selectivity in separation processes
Selectivity coefficient α
α = KIj / KIi = KCj / KCi
KIj / KIi capacity factor of solute j and i

KCj / KCi distribution coefficient of solute j and i
RT ln α = - (Δµ0i - Δµ0j )
Δµ0i - Δµ0j difference of the standard chemical

potential between phases x and y for
33
solutes i and j
Distribution coefficients
Methods to estimate distribution coefficients

• solubility parameter model
ln KCi = ( vi [(δi - δm)2 – (δi - δs)2])/ RT
• Snyder equation
ln KCi = ln va + α’ ( S0 – As ε)
• Huber (liquid – liquid partition)
ln KCi = ∑ aip + vjp

10
34
Distribution coefficients
Relationship between chromatographic retention

expressed as Ki and the distribution coefficient Kc
Ki = (vs/ vm) Kc = Φ Kc
vs , vm volume of stationary and mobile phase
ln Ki = - (ΔH0/ RT) + (ΔS0/ R) + ln Φ

enthalpic entropic
term term
35
Quantitative models
• Hildebrand’s solubility parameter theory
• Martin equation
(additively of group interactions)
• Flory – Huggins equation

(mixing of components of different sizes)
36
Displacement without localization
Xn + nMa ⇔ Xa + nMn
The subscripts n and a refer to molecules in the non-
adsorbed and adsorbed phases
The dimensionless standard state free energy ΔE of X
becomes
ΔE = EXa + nEMn – EXn – nEMa
ΔE ~ EXa - nEMa
37
Gibbs formalism
In adsorption chromatography the adsorption of

solute i can be defined in terms of the Gibbs
formalism of surface excess quantities
capacity factor of solute i is defined as

KIi = n δi/ nei
n δi , nei amount of solute i in the adsorbed and liquid
phase
The volume reduced surface excess amount is given
by
n δi(v) = n i - civm
38
39
Elution modes in HPLC
Elution can be achieved by two different modes:

Isocratic elution, without changing the mobile phase composition
Gradient elution, where the mobile phase composition is changed during
the course of the separation
Isocratic elution vs. gradient elution

(sample detected at equal attenuation)
isocratic: water/acetonitrile
25/75 (V/V) continuous
gradient: water/acetonitrile
from 90/10 (1min), at 5%/min, to 0/90 (5 min)
40
Methodology and instrumentation
Schematic diagram of an HPLC system for isocratic operation

6
5
3 7 8 9
2
4 10
1 1 = eluent reservoir 6 = column oven

2 = filter 7 = guard column
3 = high pressure pump 8 = column
with pulse dampener 9 = detector
4 = pressure gauge 10 = recorder (integrator, PC etc.)
5 = sample injection valve with
41 syringe
Pumps
Schematic drawing of a serial short-

stroke dual-head reciprocating pump
An analytical HPLC pump

must comply with following
specifications:
•variable flow rates between 0.1 and 10 ml/min

•constant flow of 2% or better at back pressures up to 40 Mpa (400 bar)
42
Pumps
Mixing of mobile phases for HPLC
a
A
A
Mixing
B Pump
chamber
B
C
C
Proportioning valve
a) Low-pressure gradient
Pump b
system;
A
b) High-pressure gradient A
Mixing
system Pump chamber
B
43
B
Pumps
• The advantages of a low-pressure gradient system are:
Pump Mixing
– More than two solvents can be mixed;
chamber
– Only one high-pressure pump is needed;
– Reproducibility of gradient formation is higher compared to a high pressure gradient system;
– When the mobile phase composition is changed, it is easier to obtain a constant flow (after
changing the mobile phase composition)
• Disadvantages of the low-pressure gradient system are:
– Proportioning valves are susceptible to contamination and can cause inaccuracies in eluent
composition
– The additional mixing chamber increases the internal volume of the system and causes a delay in
the formation of the gradient (the gradient which is actually delivered to the column) compared to
the programmed value.
44
Pumps
• Advantages of a high-pressure gradient system are:
Pump
A
Mixing
Pump chamber
B
– The two solvents are combined just before entering the column. The
effective mobile phase composition is therefore consistent with the
programmed mobile phase composition
– The internal volume of the high-pressure system is very small and it is
therefore possible to run steep gradient profiles and to perform quick mobile
phase changes.
– Degassing becomes unnecessary when mobile phase is composed at high
pressure
• Disadvantages of a high-pressure gradient system are:

– High costs, as two pumps are needed
– Lower precision of most pumps, when operated at lower flow rates, limits the
precision and reproducibility of gradient formation at extreme mobile phase
compositions
– A third pump is needed to create a gradient based on a ternary solvent
45
composition
Pumps
• When using mobile phase gradients it is important to consider the
following points:
– The solvents must be miscible over the entire gradient composition range.
– The viscosity of the resulting mobile phase can change considerably when
the solvents are mixed resulting in an increased column back pressure.
– The solvents must be thoroughly degassed otherwise bubbles can form

during mixing. Water/methanol and water/acetonitrile phases are very
susceptible. The solvents can be degassed by vacuum, sonication or helium
sparging. Flow-through on-line degassers can also be used.
– The detector must be able to handle gradients. The baseline should remain
stable over the entire mobile phase composition range. UV and fluorescence
detectors are suitable for gradient elution whereas a reflective index and an
electrochemical detector cannot be used.
46
Injection valves
Load position Injection position

Pump Pump
1 1
2 2
6 3 6 3
Column Column
5 5
4 Needle 4 Needle
guide guide
Waste Waste
Sample loop Sample loop

47
Packing Materials
Packing materials consists of porous or nonporous particles. The particles are

spherical, pellicular or irregularly formed. They are available in different sizes.
Average particle diameter dp (µm) Application in chromatography

3-5 fast separation in short columns
5 - 10 analytical applications
10 – 100 preparative separations
Packing materials can be divided into three groups:

• Inorganic packing materials such as silica and alumina (IP)
• Organic polymers such as crosslinked agarose, copolymers of styrene-
divinylbenzene, polymethylmethacrylate (OP)
48 •Bonded packing materials (BP)
Packing Materials
Criteria of packings, stationary phases and columns:

• high selectivity and specificity,
• high flexibility,
• preservation of biological activity and high mass recovery,
• high bed stability and low flow resistance,
• high chemical stability during use and storage,
• adequate efficiency,
• fast and complete regeneration,
• no fouling,
• lot-to-lot and column-to-column consistency,
• available at graduated particle sizes.
49
Packing Materials
Inorganic packing materials such as silica and alumina,

according to their porosity can be grouped to:
50
Packing Materials
Transmission electron
micrographs of silica
51
Packing Materials
52
Packing Materials
Schematic comparison of organic and inorganic packing materials
53
Packing Materials
Schematic view of organic packing material
54
Packing Materials
Various organic packing materials
55
Packing Materials
Structure of non-porous monodisperse bonded silica packings
56
Packing Materials
Bonded packing materials can be divided by:
57
Packing Materials
58
Packing Materials
59
Packing Materials
Bonded packing materials can be divided by structure into:
60
MOBILE PHASES
61
Types of HPLC
Major types of HPLC include:

• Partition chromatography (normal
and reverse phase chromatography)
o Adsorption chromatography
o Ion exchange chromatography
o Size exclusion chromatography
62
Types of HPLC separations
Selection of HPLC mode according to sample properties
63
Relative elution times for polar and non-polar analytes in normal

and reversed-phase HPLC
64
Effect of chain length on separation efficiency for

common reversed-phase HPLC stationary phases
65
Selection of optimal conditions
Relationship between theoretical plate height H and the linear

flow velocity u of the eluent
H(u) = A + B/u + Cu
Total curve
Mass Transfer
Eddy Diffusion
66
Relationship between theoretical plate height H and the linear

flow velocity u of the eluent
67
van-Deemter-Gleichung H(u) = A + B/u + C u
Eddy-Diffusion (convection):
• independant of u
• caused by different path ways
• dependant from mean particle diameter
68
H(u) = A + B/u + C u
Eddy diffusion
• dependant on particle size distribution
• morphology of packing material
69
H(u) = A + B/u + C u
Mass transfer between mobile and stationary phase
• proportional to flow rate
• caused by interaction between

analyte in the mobile phase and
the adsorbent
• proportional to the surface area

of the adsorbent
70
71
72
Detection
Types of Detectors
1) Bulk property detectors respond to mobile phase
property such as refractive index, dielectric constant or
density which is altered by the presence of analytes
2) Solute property detectors respond to properties of

solute via UV-Vis absorbance, fluorescence, or current
73
Detection
Performances of LC detectors
74
Detection
Absorbance Detectors
• Based on measurement of the absorbance of

eluents as they come off the end of the
column
• Typically use z-folded flowcell to generate

useful pathlengths while minimizing volume
to reduce extra-column broadening
• Often based on double-beam designs to

allowreal-time correction of background
75
Detection
Filter-based Detectors
• Simple detectors that use Hg lamp (usually at 254 nm) in conjunction with
filters
• 254 nm is extremely useful for detection of biological compounds such as

proteins (amide bond absorption) or DNA (nucleotide absorption)
• Can also operate with D2 or tungsten lamps in conjunction with

interference filters to allow operation at other wavelengths where aromatic
groups absorb
76
Detection
Monochromator Based Detectors
• Can use grating based scanning monochromators for UV or UV-

Vis detection
• Usually operate in either single or dual wavelength mode
• Full spectra can’t be obtained unless flow is stopped owing to

slow slewing time
77
Detection
Photodiode Array Detectors

• Most useful UV-Vis absorbance detector
• Now common in most instruments
• Can obtain whole spectrum in 1 s
• Useful diagnostic tool for identification
78
Detection
IR absorbance
• Cell is similar to that used in UV-Vis absorbance except that a glow-bar is used
as an IR source and a thermistor is used as a IR detector
• Can use conventional scanning monochromator and monitor single or dual
wavelengths
• Alternatively, can use FTIR detector and obtain full IR spectrum as peaks elute
• Useful for selective detection of functional groups (i.e., C=O, CN, etc) or for
determination of species identification using IR libraries for comparison
• Main drawbacks are poor detection limit and potential interference from mobile
phase solvents that absorb in the IR
79
Detection
Fluorescence
• Most sensitive of all HPLC detectors with ultimate detection limits as low as 10 fg
• Single molecule detection has been demonstrated with capillary LC in conjunction with laser
excitation
• Similar in design to fluorimeters and spectrofluorimeters described earlier
• Simple systems use Hg lamp in conjunction with filters
• More sophisticated systems use Xe arc lamps and monochromators
• Useful for analysis of pharmaceuticals, natural products, petroleum products and clinical
samples, but not as versatile as absorbance or RI detectors
• Range of use can be extended by sample pre-treatment to produce fluorescent derivatives
(particularly useful for protein and DNA samples)
• Fluorescent chlorides (dansyl chloride) react with 1° and 2° amines
• Isothiocyanates react with primary amines
80 • Iodoacetoxy or maleimide species react with thiols
Detection
Refractive Index Detector

• Relatively versatile detector based on differences in refractive index for mobile phase with an
without analyte present
• Figure below shows a differential RI detector which compares RI of sample and reference streams
• Presence of analyte in sample stream will lead to a deflection of the light beam on the photodetector,
and a corresponding change in signal which is amplified and recorded
• Main disadvantages are temperature sensitivity and relatively poor detection limits
81
Detection
Evaporative Light Scattering

• Based on nebulizing sample into a drift tube where controlled evaporation
of solvent takes place
• Presence of analyte leads to higher boiling point and thus less evaporation
and hence bigger droplets
• Droplets pass through a laser beam and light is scattered more by the
bigger droplets, leading to an analyte dependent signal
• Major advantage is versatility shows similar response to all non-volatile
solutes
• Another advantage is better sensitivity than RI detector (2-20x better)
82
Detection
Electrochemical
• Based on amperometry, polarography, coulometry or conductometry
• Very versatile detectors with very good detection limits (~100 fg), which can be used to detect a wide variety
of organic functional groups
83
Detection
Typical Configuration
• Based on thin-cell layout with a cell
volume of 1 – 5 μL
• Eluent passes through insulating
flow chamber past a working electrode
• Redox reaction at electrode produced
a current that is recorded when analyte is present
84
Novel developments and approaches
Focus on the following areas:
• adsorbents and stationary phases
• modelling of processes, simulation and optimization
• engineering aspects: process design, control and automation
85
Adsorbents and stationary phases
 Manufacture of improved silica packings as well as

other oxides
 Search for novel packings with controlled pore structure,
particle texture and particle morphology with respect to high
stability and utilization of capacity
 Design of surfaces with improved selectivity
86
Modelling
 Assessment of composite isotherms based on individual
isotherms determined under analytical conditions by means of
frontal analysis; calculation of elution profiles
 Modelling of mass transfer processes in columns and
calculation of reliable kinetic parameters
 Simulation of processes (displacement, closed loop
recycling, simulated moving bed, etc.)
 Optimization of process parameters, eg. cycle time,
number of cycles, optimum flow rate
87
Process design and engineering aspects

Processes
 flip-flop concept
 closed loop recycling
 counter current processes (true and simulated moving bed)
 expanded bed technology
 utilization of stationary phase selectivity
Engineering tasks
 adjustment and control of operational parameters
 automation
88  analytical control of product composition

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Introduction to High Performance

2. Step – Sample is separating into

The major separation modes in

Determined by the nature of mobile phase

inert gas liquid supercritical fluid

Gas chromatography Liquid chromatography Supercritical fluid

• 1903 Tswett - plant pigments separated on chalk columns

Classical column chromatography

High performance liquid chromatography

Progress in HPLC Particle diameter and efficiency

Improvement in separation efficiency

Year Particle diameter Separation power N/m

Scheme Component Function/feature

Mobile phase reservoir To ensure an adjustable, constant and reproducible

Analytical column To reach optimum analyte separation per unit of

High sensitivity, low detection limit, high detector

• Very applicable to separating substances

Major HPLC application areas are:

Separation of a mixture of compounds into its individual

Schematic drawing of an analytical column

Characteristic parameters for an analytical column are:

Volume ratio’s in an analytical column

V0/Vvoid ~ 0,4 V0 = 40%

Flow profile of a solute, as it is transported

The sample is introduced onto a column as a sharp

Processes leading to broadening of the injection profile of a

Schematic drawing of the partitioning of a solute between stationary phase

The distribution coefficient K for a particular solute is defined as:

Chromatogram of a sample consisting of 5 compounds

Chromatographic peaks should possess Gaussian profiles in the

The theoretical plate height is a function of the peak width

N = 5.54 (t ri/w t,0.5)2

Methods for Plate number determination

Chromatographic resolution is influenced by the following terms:

 Dispersion: √N1 = √(L/H1)

Optimum resolution of two compounds is achieved

Distribution of solute I between two immiscible phases x and y

xx, xy mole fraction of I in phase x and y

Thermodynamic distribution constant K0

ax , ay activity of solute I in phase x and y

RT ln K0 = - Δµ0 = µ0,y - µ0,x

µ0,x , µ 0,y chemical potential of solute I in

Relationship between Kx and K0

γy , γ x activity coefficient of I in phase x and y

For the infinite dilution reference state of each phase

ΔG0 change of standard free energy

Δµ0 = Δh0 - TΔs0

Δh0 , Δs0 change of partial molar enthalpy and

α = KIj / KIi = KCj / KCi

KIj / KIi capacity factor of solute j and i

Δµ0i - Δµ0j difference of the standard chemical

Methods to estimate distribution coefficients

• Huber (liquid – liquid partition)

ln KCi = ∑ aip + vjp

Relationship between chromatographic retention

vs , vm volume of stationary and mobile phase

ln Ki = - (ΔH0/ RT) + (ΔS0/ R) + ln Φ

• Hildebrand’s solubility parameter theory