Characterization of some styrene-divinylbenzene sorbents for reversed-phase chromatography

The preparation and characterization of laboratory made polymeric columns of Chromosorb 101 and Porapak Q are described, with reference to a PRP-1 column packed under the same conditions. Column parameters such as permeability, efficiency and peak asymmetry factor were calculated. The swelling propensity of the materials was measured and the dependence of peak shape on the type of organic solvent used was investigated. The efficiencies of Chromosorb 101 and Porapak Q columns were satisfactory but the spherical material PRP-1 gave better results. Porapak Q exhibited very good physical properties such as high rigidity and permeability. The swelding of polymers in acetonitrile is higher than in methanol, so a better column performance is obtained when acetonitrile is employed as the eluent.