Chromatography Forum

Does anyone have experience using hydrazine as a basic HPLC modifier?
It seems like it might be useful as a volatile modifier with a pKb (5.7) a bit higher than ammonia (4.7). I've searched online for HPLC applications of it, but could only find it used as a derivatizing agent for fluorescent detection. Would it be too reactive to add it to the mobile phase?

Thanks for any insight,
-Ryan

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/hydrazin.html

http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/HY/hydrazine.html

It is pretty toxic and probably a human carcinogen and (when dry) explosive. Easily absorbed through skin.
In our lab (organic synthesis) we could not add it to our standard organic waste. It was a separate waste stream. Quite more expensive to get rid off as well.

Thanks for the cautionary advice. The tox issues are definitely a concern, but I'm also worried that the stuff is so reactive that it would hurt the HPLC or detector (in this case a Corona CAD).

I have a particular application in mind for it, and it might be the only modifier that will work.