Ion chromatography

Ion exchange chromatography
Acronym IC, IEC
Classification Chromatography
Other techniques
Related High performance liquid chromatography
Aqueous Normal Phase Chromatography
Size exclusion chromatography
Micellar liquid chromatography

Ion-exchange chromatography (or ion chromatography) is a process that allows the separation of ions and polar molecules based on their affinity to the ion exchanger. It can be used for almost any kind of charged molecule including large proteins, small nucleotides and amino acids. It is often used in protein purification, water analysis, and quality control.

History

Ion exchange chromatography

The boom of Ion exchange chromatography primarily began between 1935-1950 and it was through the "Manhattan project" that applications and IC were significantly extended. It was in the fifties and sixties that theoretical models were developed for IC for further understanding and it was not until the seventies that continuous detectors were utilized, paving the path for the development from low-pressure to high-performance chromatography. It was not until the year 1975 that "ion chromatography" was established as a name in reference to the techniques and was thereafter used as a name for marketing purposes. Today IC is of great importance in the investigation of aqueous systems such as the analysis of drinking water. Likewise, it is a popular method for analysis of anionic elements or complexes which serve for solving environmentally relevant problems. Likewise, it also has great uses in the semiconductor industry. Because of the abundant separating columns, elution systems and detectors available, chromatography has developed into the method of choice for ion analysis.[1]

Principle

Ion Chromatography

Ion-exchange chromatography retains analyte molecules on the column based on coulombic (ionic) interactions. The stationary phase surface displays ionic functional groups (R-X) that interact with analyte ions of opposite charge. This type of chromatography is further subdivided into cation exchange chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. The ionic compound consisting of the cationic species M+ and the anionic species B- can be retained by the stationary phase.

Cation exchange chromatography retains positively charged cations because the stationary phase displays a negatively charged functional group:

\text{R-X}^-\text{C}^+\,+\, \text{M}^+ \, \text{B}^- \rightleftarrows \,\text{R-X}^-\text{M}^+ \,+\, \text{C}^+ \,+\, \text{B}^-

Anion exchange chromatography retains anions using positively charged functional group:

\text{R-X}^+\text{A}^-\,+\, \text{M}^+ \, \text{B}^- \rightleftarrows \,\text{R-X}^+\text{B}^- \,+\, \text{M}^+ \,+\, \text{A}^-

Note that the ion strength of either C+ or A- in the mobile phase can be adjusted to shift the equilibrium position, thus retention time.

The ion chromatogram shows a typical chromatogram obtained with an anion exchange column.

Typical technique

Metrohm 850 Ion chromatography system

A sample is introduced, either manually or with an autosampler, into a sample loop of known volume. A buffered aqueous solution known as the mobile phase carries the sample from the loop onto a column that contains some form of stationary phase material. This is typically a resin or gel matrix consisting of agarose or cellulose beads with covalently bonded charged functional groups. The target analytes (anions or cations) are retained on the stationary phase but can be eluted by increasing the concentration of a similarly charged species that will displace the analyte ions from the stationary phase. For example, in cation exchange chromatography, the positively charged analyte could be displaced by the addition of positively charged sodium ions. The analytes of interest must then be detected by some means, typically by conductivity or UV/Visible light absorbance.

In order to control an IC system, a chromatography data system (CDS) is usually needed. In addition to IC systems, some of these CDSs can also control gas chromatography (GC) and HPLC

Separating proteins

Preparative-scale ion exchange column used for protein purification.

Proteins have numerous functional groups that can have both positive and negative charges. Ion exchange chromatography separates proteins with regards to their net charge, which is dependent on the composition of the mobile phase. By adjusting the pH or the ionic concentration of the mobile phase, various protein molecules can be separated. For example, if a protein has a net positive charge at pH 7, then it will bind to a column of negatively charged beads, whereas a negatively charged protein would not. By changing the pH so that the net charge on the protein is negative, it too will be eluted.

Elution by increasing the ionic strength of the mobile phase is a more subtle effect - it works as ions from the mobile phase will interact with the immobilized ions in preference over those on the stationary phase. This "shields" the stationary phase from the protein, (and vice versa) and allows the protein to elute.

Separation can be achieved based on the natural isoelectric point of the protein. Alternatively a peptide tag can be genetically added to the protein to give the protein an isoelectric point away from most natural proteins (e.g. 6 arginines for binding to a cation-exchange resin or 6 glutamates for binding to an anion-exchange resin such as DEAE-Sepharose).

Elution from ion-exchange columns can be sensitive to changes of a single charge- chromatofocusing. Ion-exchange chromatography is also useful in the isolation of specific multimeric protein assemblies, allowing purification of specific complexes according to both the number and the position of charged peptide tags.[2][3]

Uses

Clinical utility

Used in measurement of HbA1c, porphyrin & water purification.

Industrial Applications

Allows for quantitative testing of electrolyte and proprietary additives of electroplating baths.[4] It is an advancement of qualitative hull cell testing or less accurate UV testing. Ions, catalysts, brighteners and accelerators can be measured.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Eith, Claudia, Kolb Maximilian, and Seubert Andreas. "Introduction." Practical Ion Chromatography An Introduction. Ed. Viehweger Kai. Herisau: Metrohm, 2002. 160.
  2. ↑ Sakash, J.B.; Kantrowitz, E.R. (2000). "The contribution of individual interchain interactions to the stabilization of the T and R states of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase.". J Biol Chem 275 (37): 28701–7. doi:10.1074/jbc.M005079200. PMID 10875936.
  3. ↑ Fairhead, M. (2013). "Plug-and-Play Pairing via Defined Divalent Streptavidins.". J Mol Biol 426 (1): 199–214. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2013.09.016. PMID 24056174.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Robert E. Smith (31 December 1987). Ion Chromatography Applications. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-4967-6.

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