Characterisation of Wide-Pore Reversed Phase Columns for Biopolymer Separations. II. Multiparametric Evaluation

Nine commercially available silica based, wide-pore columns for protein separation were tested and compared using some low molecular weight aromatic test compounds recommended in the literature. From the retention values obtained under identical mobile phase conditions the strength of stationary phases could have been well characterised by spectral mapping analysis (SMA). However, inconsistency with experience was observed with respect to the polar-neutral and polar-ionic nature of packings. After equalising the mobile phase conditions, the confounding effect of the different column strength could have been eliminated and the selectivity differences amongst the stationary phases could have been revealed. From the retention of the most relevant test compounds selected from the biplots obtained by SMA a set of single characteristics were constructed, providing a simple evaluating scheme applicable also for stationary phases of widely different type.