Solvents that are commonly used in high-performance liquid chromatography frequently have inherent chemical instabilities that must be considered when designing an analysis or in the interpretation of results (Refs. 1-4). In many cases, such solvents are obtainable with stabilizers added to control the instability or to slow the reaction. Reactive solvents that do not have stabilizers must be used quickly or be given proper treatment. In either case, it is important to understand that the solvents (as they may be used in an analysis) are not necessarily pure materials.
Although not specifically considered below, the preparation of aqueous-organic solvents for HPLC can cause the introduction of impurities. Mixing acetonitrile and water is endothermic and can sometimes exacerbate air dissolution. Buffers are also a special case in that the pH can change due to exposure to air and the development of microbes (Ref. 4). Buffers should be used the same day of preparation and often incorporate the preservative sodium metabisulfite.
Column definitions for the table are as follows.
Column heading | Definition |
Name | Solvent name |
Mol. form. | Molecular formula of solvent |
Contaminants, reaction products | Typical contaminants and reaction products found in the solvent |
Stabilizers | Common stabilizers used with the solvent |
Name | Mol. form. | Contaminants, reaction products | Stabilizers |
Ethers | |||
Diethyl ether | (C2H5)2O | Peroxides1 | 2–3% (vol/vol) ethanol2 1–10 ppm (mass/mass) BHT3 (1.5–3.5% ethanol) + (0.2–0.5% water) + (5–10 ppm (mass/mass) BHT3) |
Diisopropyl ether | C6H14O | Peroxides1 | 0.01% (mass/mass) hydroquinone 5–100 ppm (mass/mass) BHT3 |
1,4-Dioxane | C4H8O2 | Peroxides1 | 25–1500 ppm (mass/mass) BHT3 |
Tetrahydrofuran | C4H8O | Peroxides1 | 25–250 ppm (mass/mass) BHT3 |
Chlorinated Alkanes | |||
Trichloromethane | CHCl3 | Hydrochloric acid, chlorine, phosgene (CCl2O) | 0.5–1% (vol/vol) ethanol 50–150 ppm (mass/mass) amylene4 various ethanol amylene blends |
Dichloromethane | CH2Cl2 | Hydrochloric acid, chlorine, phosgene (CCl2O) | 25 ppm (mass/mass) amylene 25 ppm (mass/mass) cyclohexene 400–600 ppm (mass/mass) methanol various amylene methanol blends |
Alcohols | |||
Ethanol | C2H5OH | Water, numerous denaturants are commonly added | |
Methanol | CH3OH | Water; formal dehydrate (at elevated temperature) | |
Ketones | |||
Acetone | (CH3)2CO | Diacetone alcohol, and higher oligomers |
|