Modeling of ion-pairing effect in peptide reversed-phase chromatography

The modeling of counterion and organic modifier concentration effects in peptide APIs reversed-phase preparative chromatography is discussed in this manuscript. A stoichiometric retention model based on the counterion binding to the charged functional groups of the peptide is proposed. The model parameters were evaluated using a rather large set of retention data measured in mobile phases with various counterions and acetonitrile concentrations. The model parameters were experimentally validated by a new counterion binding measurement technique. The nmax model parameter value was found to be equal to the peptide net charge, whereas the K model parameter value was found to be specific to the counterion type (i.e. AcO− < H2PO4− < TFA− < PFPA−). The impact of the mobile phase composition on the peptide saturation capacity was also investigated. It was shown that, at low acetonitrile concentration, the peptide saturation capacity was constant for all investigated counterion types and concentrations. On the other hand, at intermediate acetonitrile concentration, the peptide saturation capacity was significantly lower and with a tendency to increase with the counterion concentration. On the whole, the developed model provides a reliable a reliable tool for the design and development of peptide purification processes at the preparative and industrial scale.