How do I increase retention time for a polar compound on a liquid chromatography (LC) column? - WKB74280

OBJECTIVE or GOAL

Increase retention time of polar compounds in reverse-phase mode.

ENVIRONMENT

• Polar compunds
• Reverse phase
• Method optimization
• Method development
• HSS T3
• CORTECS T3

PROCEDURE

• Equilibrate the column for at least 20 column volumes.
• Lower the percentage of organic in the mobile phase, or run 100% aqueous mobile phase to help promote retention of polar analytes.
• Slow the flow rate of the method to promote more contact time with the sorbent.
• If the polar compound is ionizable, add a mobile phase modifier that will change the pH to promote retention.
• Change column chemistry to a different reverse-phase chemistry.
• Explore alternative retention modes for polar analytes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information, see Which C18 column will best retain polar analytes with reverse phase? and What is a good column choice for the retention of polar, small molecules that are zwitterionic? and What is one of the causes of poor retention of an analyte on a column?