Peak compression factor of proteins.

An experimental protocol is proposed in order to measure with accuracy and precision the band compression factor G(12)(2) of a protein in gradient RPLC. Extra-column contributions to bandwidth and the dependency of both the retention factor and the reduced height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) on the mobile phase composition were taken into account. The band compression factor of a small protein (insulin, MW kDa) was measured on a 2.1mm x 50mm column packed with 1.7 microm C(4)-bonded bridged ethylsiloxane BEH-silica particles, for 1 microL samples of dilute insulin solution (<0.05g/L). A linear gradient profile of acetonitrile (25-28% acetonitrile in water containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) was applied during three different gradient times (5, 12.5, and 20 min). The mobile phase flow rate was set at 0.20 mL/min in order to avoid heat friction effects (maximum column inlet pressure 180 bar). The band compression factor of insulin is defined as the ratio of the experimental space band variance measured under gradient conditions to the reference space band variance, which would be observed if no thermodynamic compression would take place during gradient elution. It was 0.56, 0.71, and 0.76 with gradient times of 5, 12.5, and 20 min, respectively. These factors are 20-30% smaller than the theoretical band compression factors (0.79, 0.89, and 0.93) calculated from an equation derived from the well-known Poppe equation, later extended to any retention models and columns whose HETP depends on the mobile phase composition. This difference is explained in part by the omission in the model of the effect of the pressure gradient on the local retention factor of insulin during gradient elution. A much better agreement is obtained for insulin when this effect is taken into account. For lower molecular weight compounds, the pressure gradient has little effect but the finite retention of acetonitrile causes a distortion of the gradient shape during the migration of its breakthrough front along the column. This phenomenon should be taken into account in the theoretical models.