Effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes on cellulose phenylcarbamate chiral stationary phases

Single-walled carbon nanotubes ( SWNTs) have a high adsorption ability and nanoscale interactions. Cellulose trisphenylearbamates possess high enantioseparation ability in high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Single-walled carbon nanotubes mixed with cellulose trisphenylearbamate are coated on the silica gel as chiral stationary phases and higher enantioseparation factors are obtained. After a single-walled carbon nanotube is linked to the 6-position of cellulose 2,3-bisphenylearbamate, its enantioseparation resolution increases compared to that of the cellulose trisphenylearbamate. It is the first time that SWNTs have been applied to enantioseparation. The results indicate that the single-walled carbon nanotubes are good promoters of chiral recognition. This method can be used to improve the enantioseparation efficiency of the polysaccharide chiral stationary phases.