Mixture of polar acidic and basic compounds is separated on a Primesep AB mixed-mode HPLC column. Dopamine and tyrosine are retained by combination of reversed-phase and cation-exchange mechanisms. Maleic acid is retained by anion-exchange mechanism, and benzoic acid is retained by reversed-phase mechanism. Primesep AB is a trimodal column with a C12 hydrophobic chain and cation-exchange and anion exchange groups on the surface. Method utilizes UV detection but can be used with other detection techniques (ELSD, LC/MS, Corona).

The catecholamine neurotransmitters are amino-acid derivatives of tyrosine. DOPA, tyrosine, phenylalanine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine and baseline are resolved on a Primesep 100 column with UV-transparent phosphate buffer. This method can be used for analysis of catecholamines and related impurities in various matrices. Peak order and retention time can be changed by changing the amount of ACN, buffer concentration and buffer pH. Various buffers can be used to accommodate desired detection technique. Primesep 100 is a reversed-phase cation-exchange mixed-mode column that can be used for analysis of polar neutral, polar ionizable, polar zwitter-ionic, hydrophobic neutral, and hydrophobic ionic compounds in the same run. Column can be operated in reverse-phase, cation-exchange, anion-exclusion, HILIC and mixed-modes depending on the mobile phase selection and nature of analytes. Column is compatible with LC/MS and does not require use of ion-pairing reagents.

Dopamine and epinephrine were separated on a Primesep S2 HILIC mixed-mode column. Dopamine and epinephrine are retained by HILIC and cation-exchange mechanisms. Retention time is controlled by the amount of ACN, buffer and buffer pH. Method is compatible with LC/MS and can be used for analysis of polar metabolites in biofluids.