Chromatography Forum

i do not think it is rational to use aqeuous SEC to fractionate methanol extract since they are organic solvable compounds. but I cannot tell precisely why.
the first thing coming to my mind would be excessive hydrophobic interaction with stationary phase. but this problem can be solved by organic solvent rich mobile phase(>50% methanol). however, would it excessive hydrophilic interaction if you use so much organic solvent.

can I think of aqueous SEC similar to HILIC in terms of interaction mode?

Aqueous SEC should be fine for methanol extract. Depends on what you expect to extract. With extracts I usually like GCMS for first pass. If you are doing aqueous SEC then you must be expecting certain things? What are they? Though the question is not really posed in the title perhaps it should be. "Can/should I use organic solvents on my aqueous SEC column". I don't see why not.

yes, you can use organic solvent as modifier for aqueous SEC. but is it a problem to use pure organic solvent in aqueous SEC? I assume difficulty should come from non-size exclusion interaction.

Aqueous SEC should be fine for methanol extract. Depends on what you expect to extract. With extracts I usually like GCMS for first pass. If you are doing aqueous SEC then you must be expecting certain things? What are they? Though the question is not really posed in the title perhaps it should be. "Can/should I use organic solvents on my aqueous SEC column". I don't see why not.