Rosin‐based molecularly imprinted polymers as the stationary phase in high‐performance liquid chromatography for selective separation of berberine hydrochloride

A novel method for the separation of berberine hydrochloride has been developed. Berberine hydrochloride molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared by suspension polymerization in the aqueous phase using berberine hydrochloride as the template, methyl acrylic acid as a functional monomer, and ethylene glycol maleic rosinate acrylate (which contains a phenanthrene ring skeleton) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as combinatorial crosslinkers. The imprinted polymers were successfully used as a selective stationary phase in high‐performance liquid chromatography. Separation performance of the chromatographic column was determined from the selectivity (evaluated by separation factor) and sorption selectivity (evaluated by imprinting factor) of the molecularly imprinted and non‐imprinted polymers towards the template. The optimum conditions to maximize separation and imprinting factors were investigated. Acetic acid–methanol solution (0.05% v/v) was selected as the optimum mobile phase, while 0.2 mL min −1 was chosen as the optimized flow rate for selective separation of berberine hydrochloride. The highest imprinting and separation factors obtained were 1.924 and 18.52, respectively. Simultaneously, the chromatographic column backpressure was stable and showed good permeability. The chromatographic column was used to separate effectively template molecules from coptis root extract and other analogues. Such chromatographic columns with high selectivity can be used to selectively separate berberine hydrochloride from other compounds. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry