Regis Ion Pairing Reagents for HPLC

Ion Pair Chromatography is a method for improving the separation of charged analytes. In the resolution of organic ions with conventional HPLC methods, use of ion pair reagents can enhance peak shape and retention time when common remedies such as modifying eluent ratios or changing stationary phase fail.

In the past, chromatographic separation of charged analytes has been achieved by ion suppression (the careful adjustment of the mobile phase pH to result in a nonionized analyte). Determining the optimum mobile phase pH in ion suppression, however, often requires extensive method development. Samples containing more than one ionizable component were often unusable. The imitations of ion suppression led to the development of a new, more generally applicable approach to the separation of ionized components: ion pair chromatography. Developed by Dr. Gordon Schill in 1973, ion pair chromatography relies upon the addition of ionic compounds to the mobile phase to promote the formation of ion pairs with charged analytes. These reagents are comprised of an alkyl chain with an ionizable terminus. When used with common hydrophobic HPLC phases in the reversed-phase mode, ion pair reagents can be used to selectively increase the retention of charged analytes.