Ion-pair partition chromatography in the analysis of drugs and biogenic substances in plasma and urine.

Liquid-liquid chromatography based on the ion-pair partition technique gives separation systems of high efficiency when silica micro-particles are used as the support for the stationary phase. With 10-mum particles, plate heights of the order of 40-70 mum have been achieved with a linear velocity of 0.25 cm/sec. The retention in ion-pair partition systems is determined by the nature and concentration of the counter ion, and the properties of the mobile phase also have a major influence. It is often possible to predict the selectivity, and this can be controlled by varying the composition of the mobile phase. This paper describes the application of ion-pair partition chromatography to the bioanalysis of drugs, drug metabolites and biogenic substances. Typical counter ions in the stationary phase were methanesulphonate and perchlorate for ammonium compounds and tetrabutylammonium for the separation of organic anions. Determinations by liquid chromatography were demonstrated for quinidine and dihydroquinidine, metanephrine and normetanephrine and for imipramine and its demethyl metabolite in plasma. A quaternary ammonium compound, QX-572, was determined in urine and chromatograms are shown for the isolation of indoleacetic and hydroxyindoleacetic acid in urine. The methods have been used in routine analysis. Ultraviolet detection has permitted the determination of highly absorbing compounds down to the 10-ng level in plasma and urine.