Stationary Phase Polymer Aromatic Rings Bipolar Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional chromatographic techniques, such as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, face limitations in separating molecules with similar structures due to limited molecular discrimination ability, especially in supercritical fluid chromatography, where the retention trends for various compounds are similar and many stationary phases exhibit no distinct characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A stationary phase comprising a polymer with aromatic rings in the main chain and bipolar atomic groups, supported on a porous inorganic carrier like silica gel, alumina, or glass, with a specific surface area of 5 to 1000 m^2/g, enhances molecular discrimination by increasing the number of column stages and improving separation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional stationary phases (silica gel, modified silica gel) are used in supercritical fluid chromatography, then the chromatography can be performed with standard equipment, but the molecular discrimination ability is limited and retention trends for various compounds are similar

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemolecular discrimination abilityVSAvoidrange of applicable compounds
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the stationary phase by introducing a polymer with aromatic rings and bipolar atomic groups in the main chain, rather than using conventional silica gel or its modifications. This parameter change enables the stationary phase to interact differently with various compounds through pi-pi interactions and dipole-dipole interactions, thereby improving molecular discrimination ability while maintaining broad applicability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite stationary phase by combining a polymer with aromatic rings and bipolar atomic groups supported on a porous carrier. This composite structure integrates the advantages of both the polymer (molecular discrimination through specific interactions) and the porous carrier (surface area and mechanical stability), resolving the contradiction between discrimination ability and versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If a polymer with aromatic rings and bipolar atomic groups is used as stationary phase, then molecular discrimination ability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidstationary phase structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a porous inorganic carrier as the support for the polymer, providing a high surface area (5-1000 m²/g) that allows the polymer to be distributed throughout the porous structure. This porous architecture increases the effective surface area for interactions without significantly increasing the physical size of the column, thereby enhancing separation efficiency while controlling device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous carrier acts as an intermediary between the polymer and the supercritical fluid mobile phase. It provides mechanical support for the polymer while allowing the supercritical fluid to access the polymer through the porous network, enabling the polymer to function as intended without requiring direct contact between the fluid and the polymer bulk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If conventional stationary phases are used, then the column can be operated under standard conditions, but the number of column stages is insufficient for separating compounds with similar structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of column stagesVSAvoidseparation consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical interaction parameters of the stationary phase through the polymer's aromatic rings and bipolar groups, creating stronger and more selective interactions with analytes. This enables each column stage to provide greater separation power, effectively increasing the number of theoretical plates and improving the ability to separate compounds with similar structures while maintaining operational reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed stationary phase significantly enhances molecular discrimination ability, leading to sharper peaks and better separation of compounds with similar structures, particularly in supercritical fluid chromatography, by creating an adsorption field sensitive to molecular shape and size.

Implementation Method 1

chromatography performs the separation of different substances by utilizing the substance-specific distribution ratio (also understood as the adsorption equilibrium) between a porous solid (the stationary phase) and a fluid (the moving phase)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was invented as a technology that can overcome the shortcomings of both gas chromatography and liquid chromatography. Supercritical fluid chromatography utilizes the characteristics of a supercritical or subcritical fluid, i.e., it dissolves other compounds much better than a gas and has a lower viscosity and a higher diffusion rate than a liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSupercritical fluid dissolution: Supercritical Fluid

Data Source

PatentEP2876439B1Stationary phase
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 DAICEL CORP
  • EP2876439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2876439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2876439B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a stationary phase that increases the number of column stages and that exhibits an excellent molecular discrimination ability. It was discovered that the number of column stages can be increased and an excellent molecular discrimination ability can be realized by a stationary phase that contains a polymer having, in main chain repeat units, an aromatic ring that forms a portion of the main chain and a bipolar atomic group that forms a portion of the main chain, wherein the stationary phase has a specific surface area of 5 to 1000 m2/g.