Unraveling the effects of the macro- and mesoporous structure of polymer-monolithic stationary phases on the efficiency of small-molecule separations to develop ultra-performance column technology for liquid chromatography

A fundamental understanding of the relation between the structure of polymer-monolithic stationary phases, containing macropores and stagnant mesopores, and the peak dispersion of small molecules in liquid chromatography will be established. Novel pressure- and electro-driven separation strategies will be developed to distinguish eddy dispersion, axial diffusion, mobile-, and stationary-phase mass-transfer contributions to peak broadening.

Dispersion will be determined with accessible and blocked mesopores and the effect of generating pore flow in the mesopores will be explored. To gain unique insights in the mesopore-size distribution and organization and the effects of swelling, complementary physical characterization techniques will be used applying a controlled liquid environment.

After identifying the effects of macro- and mesopores structure on dispersion, optimized polymer-monolithic materials will be synthesized. The concept of templation and the use of structure-directing agents will be investigated to fabricate highly ordered macroporous monoliths. Another Innovative synthesis approach will be explored to create the desired monolithic mesoscopic structure in which the formation of macro- and mesopores is decoupled. The chromatographic performance limits of novel monolithic materials will be established in electro-driven and ultra-high-pressure LC mode. Finally, the separation potential will be demonstrated via LC-MS profiling of antibiotics and their metabolites.