Poly (styrene-divinyl benzene-glycidylmethacrylate) stationary phase grafted with poly amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers for rapid determination of phenylene diamine isomers in HPLC

A novel high performance liquid stationary phase was prepared by grafting poly amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to poly (styrene-divinyl benzene-glycidylmethacrylate) matrix in this work. Different generations of PAMAM dendrimers grafted to polymer matrices containing different glycidylmethacrylate amounts by reacting with epoxy groups in glycidylmethacrylate molecules. The synthesized PAMAM dendrimers and stationary phase were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, N2 adsorption/desorption, elemental analysis and thermo gravimetric analyzer. The proposed stationary phase was suitable for rapid separation of phenylene diamine isomers and aminobenzene. The separation mechanism of benzene rings attraction and amino repulsion was verified by retention behaviors of methylamine, phenylamine, phenylene diamine, naphthylamine and toluene. The reliability of the stationary phase was demonstrated by separation and determination of phenylene diamine isomers including m-phenylene diamine, o-phenylene diamine and p-phenylene diamine in hair dye precursors within 10min. Satisfactory resolution and short analysis time make the columns promising for determination of aniline compounds in various fields. [Display omitted] •A new HPLC column was synthesized by grafting with PAMAM dendrimers.•Polymer matrix improved the chemical and thermal stability of the stationary phase.•Rich surface groups of PAMAM dendrimers result in a good resolution of the column.•Benzene rings attraction and amino repulsion mechanism ensure the rapid separations.