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