Micellar selectivity triangle for classification of chemical selectivity in electrokinetic chromatography

A novel micellar selectivity triangle (MST) is developed and used to characterize and classify the chemical selectivities of pseudo-phases in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC). The MST scheme is, in concept, similar to the widely known solvent selectivity triangle (SST) originally developed by Snyder. However, the MST is based on linear solvation energy relationships. Thus it incorporates the solvation characteristics of both the pseudo-phase and the bulk solvent; while the SST is basically for classification of pure solvents. The similarities and differences of these pseudo-phases are determined by the relative scales of hydrogen bond donating ability (Xb), hydrogen bond accepting ability (Xa) and dipolarity (Xs). The MST scheme is used for characterization and classification of a wide range of pseudo-phases such as micelles, polymers, vesicles, liposomes, as well as mixed systems such as mixed micelles, mixed polymer–surfactants, organically modified pseudo-phases, etc. Over seventy pseudo-phases were examined and four clusters of pseudo-phases with different selectivity patterns are recognized that include pseudo-phases with strong hydrogen bond acidities (e.g. fluorinated micelles or micelles modified with fluorinated alcohols), strong hydrogen bond acceptor pseudo-phases (such as bile salts, liposomes, microemulsions, as well as biphasic octanol–water system), strong dipolar phase of a class of polymeric pseudo-phase, and pseudo-phases with intermediate hydrogen bonding and dipolarity [like sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and its analogs as well as organically modified SDS]. The MST scheme is also useful in identifying pseudo-phases that closely resemble the selectivities of octanol–water for determination of octanol–water partition coefficients by EKC.