Enhancement of molecular shape selectivity by in situ anion-exchange in poly(octadecylimidazolium) silica column

This paper demonstrates that in situ anion exchange could be successfully applied as a new method for modifying the surface properties of a poly(octadecylimidazolium)-grafted silica stationary phase to tune and enhance selectivity. Specifically, the original stationary phase was prepared by surface-initiated radical chain-transfer polymerization of 1-vinyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide as an ionic liquid monomer; the Br− counter anion was then exchanged for methyl orange via an in-column process. As evaluated via the separation of constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the in situ exchange enhanced the molecular shape-selectivity performance. Enhanced selectivity was also confirmed using Standard Reference Material (SRM) 869b (column selectivity test mixture) and SRM 1647e (16 priority pollutant PAHs). The reproducibility of new column was tested via the separation of pyrene, triphenylene, benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene with methanol as eluent at 10 °C and the RSD values (n = 12) of the retention factors of them are within 0.27–0.77%.

► In situ anion-exchange was used to tune the column performance for the first time.
► Poly(octadecylimidazolium) silica columns were prepared.
► The effect of counter anions was proved in ionic liquid-modified silica column.
► 16 EPA PAH mixture is resolved within 35 min in isocratic conditions.