ABSTRACT
Glassesand silica-gel packings modified with fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon silylation agents were prepared to investigate the separation mechanism of a fluorocarbon bonded layer in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). On the hydrocarbon layer the contact angles of benzene (Be) and hexafluorobenzene (FB) decreased with increasing carbon chain length of the modifier, and the mobile phase (MP) was independent of the modifier. The fluorocarbon layer gave a larger contact angle for each liquid than the hydrocarbon layer. The retention factor, k, of Be and FB on hydrocarbon packings increased with decreasing contact angle. It was demonstrated that the separation of Be and FB on hydrocarbon packings is caused by solvophobic interaction between solute molecules and the stationary layer. In contrast, k increased with increasing contact angle at the fluorocarbon layer. The retention of Be and FB on fluorocarbon packings may be attributed to the penetration of the solute molecules from the mobile phase into the fluorocarbon stationary layer. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
ABSTRACT
The separation and characterization of octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants were carried out by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on branched fluorinated silica gel columns. For Triton X-100, simultaneous separation of octylphenol ethoxylate oligomers, positional isomers of octylphenyl group and butylphenol ethoxylate oligomers was achieved. These oligomers were completely separated and identified by means of MS spectra. Ethoxylated oligomers are eluted in the sequence from small to large oligomers. Fifty-five oligomers of Triton X-405 could be separated by using gradient elution. To separate octylphenol ethoxylate surfactant, non-end-capped branched fluorinated silica gel columns were superior to end-capped columns. The relationship between ln k' and methanol concentration was linear, indicating that branched fluorinated silica gel columns were operating in the reversed-phase mode. As Van 't Hoff plots of capacity factor for all oligomers gave straight lines, the equilibrium of conformation for the ethylene oxide chain might lay to one side of either zigzag or meander conformers.
