Synthesis, characterization and application of carbon nanotube-bonded with silica as a high performance liquid chromatography stationary phase

Abstract

In order to improve the retention ability of anthraquinones and flavonoids on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column and improve chromatographic performance, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were bound to the surface of silica spheres via amide bonding using a chemical synthesis method. Three hybrid fillers were prepared by varying the amount of MWCNTs added, and the stationary phases were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The successful preparation of the mixed stationary phases was demonstrated by comparing the changes in the surface of silica spheres before and after bonding and the changes in the absorption peaks of specific functional groups. The mixed stationary phases were filled in the empty column of the HPLC. The results of this study indicate that the columns can be prepared by CNTs@SiO₂ to improve or broaden the chromatographic performance of the stationary phase and obtain better separation of the compounds. This thesis provides an idea for improving chromatographic performance with a view to playing a better role in the application of compound separation.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• MWCNTs
• CNTs@SiO₂
• characterization
• HPLC
• chromatographic performance

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No.81673574).