Reducing adsorption on metal surfaces

In this application note, YMC Europe addresses challenges in analyzing sensitive molecules using standard liquid chromatography methods. Sensitive compounds like peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides often experience issues like peak tailing, loss of recovery, and retention time shifts due to unwanted interactions with metal surfaces in the chromatographic system. These interactions are more pronounced with acidic molecules containing phosphate or multiple carboxylate groups. The extent of adsorption and peak deformations depend on factors such as pH and ionic strength, with higher ionic strength reducing adsorption and a low to neutral pH increasing it. The number of such moieties also affects adsorption, as seen with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which shows higher adsorption and does not elute compared to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine monophosphate (AMP), with ADP still exhibiting more deformed peaks than AMP.