Device and methods for performing size exclusion chromatography

A method of performing size exclusion chromatography comprising:

• (A) providing size exclusion chromatographic column, the size exclusion chromatographic column comprising:
• a housing having at least one wall defining a chamber having an entrance opening and an exit opening;
• a stationary phase material comprising a core composition and a surface composition held in said chamber;
• and
• one or more frits to contain the stationary phase material within the housing;
• wherein said stationary phase material comprises particles represented by Formula 1:
• W—[X]—Q Formula 1
• wherein:
• X is the core composition having a surface, the core composition comprising an organic-inorganic hybrid material comprising an aliphatic bridged silane;
• W is hydrogen or hydroxyl;
• Q is represented by Formula 2:
• wherein
• n1 an integer from 2-6;
• n2 an integer from 0-6;
• each occurrence of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represents hydrogen, fluoro, alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbons in the chain, wherein Q is attached to X through Z;
• Z is represented by Formula 3
• (B1)x(R5)y(R6)zSi- Formula 3
• wherein
• x is an integer from 1-3,
• y is an integer from 0-2,
• z is an integer from 0-2,
• and x+y+z=3
• each occurrence of R5 and R6 independently represents alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbons in the chain;
• B1 represents —OR7;
• Y represents an ether linkage;
• and
• A represents a silane, an alcohol, or a diol;
• wherein the particles of the stationary phase material have diameters with a mean size distribution of 0.4-2.0 microns;
• (B) loading a sample on the stationary phase material;
• and
• (C) flowing a mobile phase through the stationary phase material at a flow rate of 0.1 mL/min to 0.8 mL/min under conditions such that one or more compounds in the sample are separated by size.