RAPID, HIGH-RESOLUTION HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ANTIBIOTICS

A HPLC column devised for high separation speed combined with highly p ractical operating features has been found useful for separating antib iotics. Important characteristics involve compromises in packing parti cle size, column configuration and support-stationary phase combinatio ns. We determined that these columns are useful for rapid, high-resolu tion separations with unmodified state-of-the-art HPLC equipment witho ut the extra-column band-broadening effects typical of so-called ''fas t'' HPLC columns. The proposed columns feature efficient sterically-pr otected monofunctional silane stationary phases that provide good sepa ration reproducibility and high column stability. The combination of t hese unique bonded silanes and a highly purified, less-acidic silica s upport give superior peak shapes for antibiotic compounds. The propose d column configuration can halve separation times and double peak heig hts without loss in resolution, compared to widely used analytical col umns. Increased mobile phase flow-rates permit even faster separations of antibiotics with only modest loss in resolution and peak heights f or trace analyses in biological systems.