Preparation of pyrenebutyric acid bonded silica stationary phases for the application to the separation of fullerenes

A novel immobilization method was proposed for the preparation of pyrenebutyric acid-bonded silica (PYB-silica) stationary phases. The pyrene moiety was grafted to silica gel through spacers of aminoalkyl silanes. The HPLC separation of C60, C70 and higher fullerenes on the new pyrenebutyric acid-bonded silica stationary phases was also studied. Based on the temperature effect, the intermolecular interaction between stationary phases and solutes and the retention mechanism were discussed. The results of column loading capacity test demonstrated the potential for the separation of fullerenes in large amounts on the PYB-silica stationary phases.