Liquid crystals purity assay using nonaqueous capillary electrokinetic chromatography

Abstract

A method for purity control of newly synthesized lactic acid-based liquid crystals has been developed. The electrokinetic chromatography proved to be suitable for the separation of these electroneutral substances from their impurities. The separations were performed in an acidic acetonitrile-based background electrolyte (BGE) with a pseudostationary phase formed by a cationic surfactant. During the optimization step, appropriate concentrations of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, acetic acid, and water were seeked. In the optimized method, separations were carried out in acetonitrile with 1-mol/L acetic acid, 80-mmol/L cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and 6% (v/v) water. Interesting positive effects of a small water content in the BGE on electroosmotic flow and resolution of liquid crystal substances from their impurities were observed and discussed.Samples of five liquid crystal substances, both pure and containing impurities from synthesis, were analyzed. The identification of analytes was based on a comparison of relative migration times related to the migration time of mesityl oxide. For all five samples, impurities were separated from the liquid crystals and the method thus showed its viability. To the best of our knowledge, this method is used for the first time for the purity control of newly synthesized liquid crystals. This method can be used to confirm or complement the results obtained by commonly used high-performance liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography methods. Furthermore, the electrokinetic chromatography method requires very small amounts of sample, solvents, and buffer constituents. Overall, its operational costs are significantly lower.