An Automated Coupled-Column Liquid Chromatography System for Measuring Aqueous Solubilities of Hydrophobic Solutes.

Abstract

An automated apparatus is described for measuring the aqueous solubility of a sparingly soluble organic compound at many different temperatures. Water is pumped through a generator column packed with a chromatographic support coated with the organic compound, producing a saturated solution. The solute in a measured volume of this solution is extracted with an extractor column and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The temperature of the thermostat bath and the operation of the valves and the HPLC are under the control of a microcomputer. Solubility measurements of ethylbenzene obtained with this apparatus have a standard deviation at any one temperature of about 3% of the mean.