Chromatography 1 Flashcards
What is chromatography?
A technique to separate components of a mixture by passing them through a stationary phase, based on properties like size, charge, hydrophobicity, and affinity.
What are the two primary goals of chromatography
Preparative chromatography: Isolate sufficient quantities of a target component.
Analytical chromatography: Quantify and analyze individual components.
What does HPLC stand for?
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.
What are the two main modes of mobile phase composition in HPLC?
Isocratic: Mobile phase composition remains constant throughout.
Gradient: Mobile phase strength increases over time to improve separation.
What is the role of the HPLC pump?
To deliver a precise, reproducible, constant, and pulse-free flow of the mobile phase.
What are the main characteristics used to separate compounds in HPLC?
Polarity (normal-phase and reverse-phase chromatography)
Electrical charge (ion-exchange chromatography)
Molecular size (size exclusion chromatography)
Affinity (affinity chromatography)
How does reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) work?
Stationary phase: Hydrophobic.
Mobile phase: Polar.
Nonpolar compounds interact more with the stationary phase and elute slower.
What is size exclusion chromatography?
A technique that separates molecules based on size. Smaller molecules penetrate the pores of the stationary phase and elute slower than larger molecules.
How does solvent strength affect separation in HPLC?
Stronger solvents elute solutes faster, reducing retention time.
In RP-HPLC, water is a “weak” solvent, and organic solvents are “strong.”
How does pH affect retention in RP-HPLC?
Low pH suppresses ionization of weak acids, increasing retention.
Ionized compounds interact less with the hydrophobic stationary phase.
What is the typical flow rate in HPLC?
0.5–2 mL/min.
What is the difference between a chromatograph and a chromatogram?
Chromatograph: The instrument used in chromatography.
Chromatogram: The graphical output showing separated components.
What is the role of the HPLC injector?
To introduce a precise sample volume into the mobile phase.
List pharmaceutical applications of HPLC.
Identification and assay of drug substances.
Impurity and preservative testing.
Dissolution testing.
Bioanalytical testing (blood, plasma, urine).
What is the purpose of HPLC in drug impurity testing?
To identify and quantify trace impurities in pharmaceutical formulations.