Separation of nonionic surfactants according to functionality by hydrophilic interaction chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography

It is shown, that amphiphilic polymers—such as polysorbates and fatty esters of polyethylene glycol can be separated by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography using a reversed phase column (under critical conditions for the polyoxyethylene chain) and a HILIC column, which may arranged in different order. The mobile phases in both dimensions can be 93–97 wt% acetone water. As the retention of higher esters on the reversed phase column is very strong, this column should be used as the first dimension. On the HILIC column all fractions elute within a reasonably short time (at a flow rate of 2.5 ml/min within 2 min). With a flow rate of 0.1 ml/min in the first dimension, a full separation can be achieved in 90 min.