By Noé on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 07:47 am:
Hello, could anyone tell us something about TBAH?
We are loosing resolution and efficacy in just a few days and we are thinking in the possibility that it was caused by this component of mobile phase.
Our stationary phase is a TSK GEL SUPER ODS, of 2 um, (5x0.46)cm. The mobile phase is (18-40)%AcN gradient and a pH 6.0 phosphate buffer , 5mM TBAH and 20mM KCl.
Thank you very much...
By Chris Pohl on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 05:44 pm:
Are you really making your eluent using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide or are you actually using a buffered reagent? If you are actually using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, it often contains quite a few impurities. The impurities in the reagent could definitely be responsible for a gradual decline in retention. The hydroxide form of this reagent slowly degrades via Hoffman elimination to produce 1-butene and tributyl amine. Tributyl amine could definitely cause the problem you describe. In this case, your best bet is to get a fresh source of reagent. In my experience, Sachem and Fluka have the best quality reagent.