Question

What is the purpose of adding an ion pairing agent to a sample? Give example of chemical that could be added as an ion pairing agent to a water soluble vitamin. What type of molecule would serve as an ion pairing agent for a mixture of organic acids?

Answer 1

Solution- Ion pairing agents are compound that have hydrophobic portion and ionic functional group. It interacts with sample and make them pseudo-neutral complex and sometimes form transitory ion exchage site. Ion pairing agents are useful for peptide which are difficult to purify. For example perfluoropentanoic acid.

* PICB6 (Hexane sulforic acid) is used as ion pairing agent for water soluble vitamin.

TFA (Trifloroactic Acid ) use as ion pairing agent for a mixture of organic acids.

It interacts with sample and make them pseudo-neutral complex and sometimes form transitory ion exchage site. Ion pairing agents are useful for peptide which are difficult to purify. For example perfluoropentanoic acid.