title: Ionic liquids-assisted fabrication of silica-based monolithic columns.
abstract: The mesopores of a monolithic silica column are very important and useful for chromatographic separation since they can offer sufficiently large surface area. In this paper, a novel method with the assistance of an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmin]BF₄) was developed for the preparation of a C18-modified monolithic silica column for the first time, in which, the through pores and mesopores were formed simultaneously during the sol-gel reaction. The method is effective to simplify the preparation process of the silica-based monolithic columns. The factors influencing the sol-gel process, including the content of methanol and pH, were studied. The chromatographic performance of the prepared monolithic column was evaluated by the separation of alkylbenzenes.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D044367:Phase Transition; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C419324:1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000432:Methanol