Week 3 - Small Molecule Chromatography Flashcards
Small Molecules
- compounds with Leo molecular weight (<1000Da)
- amino acids, lipids, sugars, fatty acids, alkaloids, and others
Separation
- similar to protein separation
- small molecules are such smaller as they range between 10-1000 Da rather than 1.5 kDa-450kDa for protein
How can good separation be achieved?
- achieving good separation between small molecule can often be more challanging
- therefore, advanced chromatography is required for good seperation
Examples of Seperation
liquid chromatography (LC)
gas chromatography (GC)
thin-layer chromatography (TCL)
capillary electrophoresis (CE)
Examples of Detection Techniques
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) - robust but high cost
uncommon UV/Vis spectroscopy - simplest
The order of molecule elution depends on
- Stationary phase(SP) -MAIN FACTOR
- Mobile phase (MP) composition
Reverse phase of SP
SP is normally hydrocarbons (e.g. C8, C18) attached to a silica- based backbone, therefore in hydrophobic nature.
Hydrophilic compounds will elute first, then hydrophobic compounds will elute last.
Normal phase of SP
SP is polar compounds (e.g. NH2, APS) attached, therefore in hydrophilic nature.
Hydrophobic compounds will elute first, and then hydrophilic compounds will elute last.
Hydrophilic Interaction LC (HILIC)
Similar to Normal phase, but aqueous layer is formed between polar stationary phase and organic mobile phase.
Which RP method is ideal for the separation of 3 cyclic compounds?
Method 1
– Shortest run, but no clear separation between Benzoic acid and Benzylamine.
Method 2
– Increase in organic composition. Good separation between all.
Method 3
– Increase in pH changed the elution order and run time.
Overall, method 2 because of good separations, yet it has a short run time.
Change in pH and Temp. also affects elution order
What is Gas Chromatography (GC) ideal for?
Ideal for the components of a volatile mixture.
What principle does Gas Chromatography (GC) operate on?
Operates on the principle of partitioning between a mobile phase (carrier gas) and a stationary phase (a liquid or solid coated onto the inside surface of a capillary column or packed in a column).
Gas Chromatography (GC)
High Sensitivity and Specificity
Wide Range of Applications
Compatibility with Various Detectors
High Resolution and Efficiency
Quantitative Analysis
Gas Chromatography (GC) - High Sensitivity and Specificity
GC can detect and quantify very low concentrations of chemical substances, making it ideal for trace analysis.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Wide Range of Applications
It is used in various fields such as environmental analysis, pharmaceuticals, petrochemical industry, food and flavor analysis, forensic science, and more.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Compatibility with Various Detectors
GC can be coupled with different types of detectors (e.g., Flame Ionization Detector [FID], Mass Spectrometer [MS], Electron Capture Detector [ECD]), enhancing its applicability to analyze a wide range of compounds.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - High Resolution and Efficiency
GC is capable of separating complex mixtures into individual components due to the high efficiency of the columns used.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Quantitative Analysis
It provides precise and accurate quantitative information about the components
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Steps
- Sample Injection and Vaporization
- Separation
- Detection
- Data Analysis
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Sample Injection and Vaporization
A small volume of the liquid sample is injected into the injection port where it is vaporized to form a gas.
This gas is then carried into the column by an inert carrier gas (mobile phase), such as helium or nitrogen.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Separation
The vaporized sample is transported through the column by the carrier gas.
The column contains a stationary phase, which can be a liquid or solid.
Components of the vaporized sample distribute themselves between the mobile phase and the stationary phase, based on their relative affinity for the stationary phase.
Components with less affinity for the stationary phase travel faster and elute (exit) the column earlier than those with greater affinity.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Detection
As each component exits the column, it passes through a detector specific to the type of analysis being conducted.
The detector generates a signal proportional to the amount of the component present, producing a peak on a chromatogram.
Gas Chromatography (GC) - Data Analysis
The chromatogram displays the separation of the components as distinct peaks.
Each peak’s retention time (the time taken for a component to pass through the column) helps in identifying the component, while the peak area or height can be used to quantify the concentration
What is a compound formed during coffee roasting?
Furan