Types of HPLC
There are following types of HPLC, depending upon the phase system (stationary) in the process :
- Normal Phase HPLC:
This method separates analytes on the basis of polarity. NP-HPLC uses polar stationary phase and non-polar mobile phase. Therefore, the stationary phase is usually silica and typical mobile phases are hexane, methylene chloride, chloroform, diethyl ether, and mixtures of these. Polar samples are thus retained on the polar surface of the column packing longer than less polar materials. - Reverse Phase HPLC:
The stationary phase is nonpolar (hydrophobic) in nature, while the mobile phase is a polar liquid, such as mixtures of water and methanol or acetonitrile. It works on the principle of hydrophobic interactions hence the more nonpolar the material is, the longer it will be retained. - Size-exclusion HPLC:
The column is filled with material having precisely controlled pore sizes, and the particles are separated according to its their molecular size. Larger molecules are rapidly washed through the column; smaller molecules penetrate inside the porous of the packing particles and elute later. - Ion-Exchange HPLC:
The stationary phase has an ionically charged surface of opposite charge to the sample ions. This technique is used almost exclusively with ionic or ionizable samples. The stronger the charge on the sample, the stronger it will be attracted to the ionic surface and thus, the longer it will take to elute. The mobile phase is an aqueous buffer, where both pH and ionic strength are used to control elution time.
Instrumentation of HPLC
- Solvent Resorvoir : Mobile phase contents are contained in a glass resorvoir. The mobile phase, or solvent, in HPLC is usually a mixture of polar and non-polar liquid components whose respective concentrations are varied depending on the composition of the sample.
- Pump : A pump aspirates the mobile phase from the solvent resorvoir and forces it through the system’s column and detecter. Depending on a number of factors including column dimensions, particle size of the stationary phase, the flow rate and composition of the mobile phase, operating pressures of up to 42000 kPa (about 6000 psi) can be generated.
- Sample Injector : The injector can be a single injection or an automated injection system. An injector for an HPLC system should provide injection of the liquid sample within the range of 0.1-100 mL of volume with high reproducibility and under high pressure (up to 4000 psi).
- Columns : Columns are usually made of polished stainless steel, are between 50 and 300 mm long and have an internal diameter of between 2 and 5 mm. They are commonly filled with a stationary phase with a particle size of 3–10 µm. Columns with internal diameters of less than 2 mm are often referred to as microbore columns. Ideally the temperature of the mobile phase and the column should be kept constant during an analysis.
- Detector : The HPLC detector, located at the end of the column detect the analytes as they elute from the chromatographic column. Commonly used detectors are UV-spectroscopy, fluorescence, mass-spectrometric and electrochemical detectors.
- Data Collection Devices : Signals from the detector may be collected on chart recorders or electronic integrators that vary in complexity and in their ability to process, store and reprocess chromatographic data. The computer integrates the response of the detector to each component and places it into a chromatograph that is easy to read and interpret.
Applications in pharmaceutical analysis are :
• Assay
• Related Substances
• Analytical method development
• Related Substances
• Analytical method development
• Stability Studies of Pharmaceutical products
• Compound Identification in natural products and synthetic chemistry
• Working Standards
• Compound Identification in natural products and synthetic chemistry
• Working Standards
