Effect of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquid on the resolution of three components in Herba Artemisiae Scopariae by RP-HPLC

Center for Advanced Bioseparation Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University,

253 Yonghyun-Dong, Nam-Ku, Incheon 402-751, Korea

E-mail : rowkho@inha.ac.kr Fax : 82-32-872-4046

Manuscript received 9 January 2009, accepted 11 June 2009

The chromatographic behavior of three components of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and rutin on C₁₈ column was examined using different concentrations of a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid as an additive in acetonitrile/water (20/80, v/v) mobile phase. The results showed that 1- butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, optimal concentration 0.5 mM, was quite effective in retaining the three components. The mechanism of retention of three components on C₁₈ column in the presence of ionic liquid additive has been discussed.