Characterization of ion exchange stationary phases via pH transition profiles.

New non-destructive method for characterization of ion exchange chromatographic columns based on transient pH formed by a step change in ionic strength of buffer solutions was examined. The method was used to distinguish between cation and anion or weak and strong ion exchange chromatographic supports and to determine the capacity of the chromatographic resins. The general scheme to distinguish between most commonly used types of ion exchange chromatographic columns was proposed. The duration of pH transient was shown to be linearly proportional to the total ionic capacity and was used to estimate protein dynamic binding capacity of the resin. The effects of pH, concentration and temperature on transient pH duration were examined.

Chemical and chromatographic stability of methacrylate-based monolithic columns.

Chemical and chromatographic stability of methacrylate-based monolithic columns bearing 3-N,N-diethylamino-2-hydroxypropyl (DEAE) and quarternary amine (QA) groups was studied. The leakage products from both monolithic columns were determined and the leakage of amines has been quantified in alkali solutions. Monolithic columns bearing QA functional groups being exposed to 1M sodium hydroxide solution for up to 3 months caused reduction of ion-exchange groups for approximately 12%, while for DEAE monolithic columns was only around 3% in 1 year. In 0.1M NaOH and 20% ethanol degradation was significantly lower. The main leaking compound from DEAE monolith was found to be 3-(diethylamino)-1,2-propanediol and 2,3-dihydroxypropyltrimethylammonium salt for QA monolith. During repeated 50 cleaning-in-place (CIP) cycles, no changes in chromatographic properties were detected.

The ozonation of silanes and germanes: an experimental and theoretical investigation.

Ozonation of various silanes and germanes produced the corresponding hydrotrioxides, R3SiOOOH and R3GeOOOH, which were characterized by 1H, 13C, 17O, and 29Si NMR, and by infrared spectroscopy in a two-pronged approach based on measured and calculated data. Ozone reacts with the E-H (E = Si, Ge) bond via a concerted 1,3-dipolar insertion mechanism, where, depending on the substituents and the environment (e.g., acetone-d6 solution), the H atom transfer precedes more and more E-O bond formation. The hydrotrioxides decompose in various solvents into the corresponding silanols/germanols, disiloxanes/digermoxanes, singlet oxygen (O2(1delta(g))), and dihydrogen trioxide (HOOOH), where catalytic amounts of water play an important role as is indicated by quantum chemical calculations. The formation of HOOOH as a decomposition product of organometallic hydrotrioxides in acetone-d6 represents a new and convenient method for the preparation of this simple, biochemically important polyoxide. By solvent variation, singlet oxygen (O2(1delta(g))) can be generated in high yield.

Simple method for determining the amount of ion-exchange groups on chromatographic supports.

The objective of this study was to develop a fast, simple, non-destructive, non-toxic and low-priced method for determining the amount of ionic groups on resins, since the conventional titration method fails to give proper results on methacrylate monoliths. After the column had been pre-saturated with a high concentration buffer solution, a low concentration buffer solution of the same pH value was pumped through the column. Measuring pH and absorbance, the profiles with a shape of typical break-through curve were obtained. It was shown that the time of the pH transient, which appeared under such conditions, could be used as a measure of the total ionic capacity of ion-exchange monolithic columns. The effect of the column length, linear velocity and varying concentrations of buffer solutions on the time of the pH transient was examined. The method was shown to be suitable for determining the amount of ionic groups on both anion and cation monolithic columns. In addition, it could also be applied to particle bed columns. The time of the pH transient and the protein dynamic binding capacity were also compared and it was concluded that for a given monolith the protein capacity can be derived from the data obtained by the new method.