Chromatographic behavior of poly(styrene–divinybenzene) encapsulated packing material for capillary electrochromatography

Poly(styrene–divinylbenzene) encapsulated silica (PS-DES) was synthesized and its characteristics as capillary electrochromatography stationary phase were studied. On capillary columns packed with this stationary phase, the effects of acetonitrile concentration as well as pH values on electroosmotic flow, and the effect of the latter on column efficiency were evaluated. Aromatic hydrocarbons, polar and basic medicinal compounds were successfully separated by using reversed-phase elution. It was evident that selectivity based on π–π electronic interaction between solute and stationary phase molecules contributed to the separation. Peaks in the chromatograms obtained were generally symmetrical. At a pH of the mobile phase as high as 11.2, the stationary phase was still stable after more than 160 h of exposure.