A monolithic capillary column was prepared by single-step copolymerization of the ionic liquid 1-vinyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide (VOI) and styrene. The VOI and styrene monomers were introduced to provide multiple interaction sites and increase hydrophobicity and aromaticity of the monolithic column, respectively. The effect of porogen ratio, monomer ratio and reaction temperature on permeability was investigated. The resulting column was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and the results suggest that the column possesses high porosity and good homogeneity. A relatively strong anodic electroosmotic flow was generated over a wide range of pH values (pH 2.0-10.0), and this facilitates the rapid separation of analytes within 12 min. Alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), proteins and amino acids were used to evaluate the performance of the monolithic column under capillary electrochromatography mode by UV detection. Mixed-mode retention mechanisms including hydrophobic interaction, π-stacking, ion-exclusion interaction were observed. The monolithic column exhibits high column efficiency (8.72 × 104 plates∙m-1) and satisfying separation capability (the resolution of four alkylbenzenes: 2.54, 2.86 and 4.62, four PAHs: 2.79, 4.83 and 4.77, three proteins: 4.35 and 2.86, two amino acids: 3.34). Graphical abstractSchematic representation of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) systems with ionic liquid and styrene based organic polymer monolithic column for separation of alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, proteins and amino acids.
Keywords: Anodic electroosmotic flow; Bifunctional stationary phase; Capillary electrochromatography; Macrobiomolecules; Mixed-mode retention mechanisms; Neutral aromatic compounds; Organic polymer monolithic column; Small charged molecules.