Simultaneous optimization of variables influencing selectivity and elution strength in micellar liquid chromatography. Effect of organic modifier and micelle concentration.

Previously, the simultaneous enhancement of separation selectivity with elution strength was reported in micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) using the hybrid eluents of water-organic solvent-micelles. The practical implication of this phenomenon is that better separations can be achieved in shorter analysis times by using the hybrid eluents. Since both micelle concentration and volume fraction of organic modifier influence selectivity and solvent strength, only an investigation of the effects of a simultaneous variation of these parameters will disclose the full separation capability of the method, i.e. the commonly used sequential solvent optimization approach of adjusting the solvent strength first and then improving selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography is inefficient for the case of MLC with the hybrid eluents. This is illustrated in this paper with two examples: the optimization of the selectivity in the separation of a mixture of phenols and the optimization of a resolution-based criterion determined for the separation of a number of amino acids and small peptides. The large number of variables involved in the separation process in MLC necessitates a structured approach in the development of practical applications of this technique. A regular change in retention behavior is observed with the variation of the surfactant concentration and the concentration of organic modifier, which enables a successful prediction of retention times. Consequently interpretive optimization strategies such as the interative regression method are applicable.