Two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography using monodisperse polymer beads containing segregated chemistries prepared by pore size specific functionalization. Single-column combinations of size exclusion or ion exchange with reversed-phase chromatography.
Separation media for the complete separation of complex samples that require a combination of size exclusion or ion-exchange with reversed-phase chromatographic modes in a single column have been prepared from size monodisperse 10 microns poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) beads using a pore size specific functionalization process. To achieve the first combination of chromatographic modes, the large pores of the beads were selectively hydrolyzed to diols using aqueous poly(styrenesulfonic acid), while highly hydrophobic octadecyl groups were introduced into the small pores by reaction of the remaining epoxide groups with octadecylamine. These beads provide excellent protein recoveries and may be used for the direct injection separation of samples containing both hydrophilic proteins and hydrophobic drugs. Beads containing diethylamino groups in the large pores and octadecyl functionalities in the small pores were also prepared by size-selective modification. A plot of log k' against ionic strength of the mobile phase for these beads shows the absence of hydrophobic interactions and documents the clean ion-exchange mechanism of protein separation. Examination of the small pores in both types of separation media confirmed that their hydrophobicity was sufficient to allow the separations of small molecules in reversed-phase mode. Column packed with these dual-chemistry beads exhibited high efficiencies and were used successfully for the separations of proteins and alkylbenzenes or drugs.