Abstract: The invention includes a process for performing high performance liquid chromatography in the reverse phase. The present process for high performance separations by liquid chromatography uses a separations media, including separations packing materials for packed column separations, of polybutadiene coated and crosslinked on a surface of generally spherical metal oxide/hydroxide support particles comprising crystals of metal oxide/hydroxide with the crystals extending radially outward from a central core region and having a shape selected from principally acicular to principally lamellar. It has been found that liquid chromatography using the process of the present invention works particularly well in separating basic, nitrogen-containing compounds.

Abstract: The invention includes novel separations material of stable polybutadiene coated and crosslinked on a surface of generally spherical metal oxide/hydroxide support particles comprising crystals of metal oxide/hydroxide with the crystals extending radially outward from a central core region and having a shape selected from principally acicular to principally lamellar. A chromatographic packing material for performing high performance liquid chromatography in the reverse phase of polybutadiene coated on alumina in accordance with the present invention provides highly symmetrical chromatogaphic peaks.

Abstract: The invention includes producing a stable polybutadiene film on an alumina support wherein the alumina contains an alumina having a habit or form of crystals formed during a precipitation of aluminum hydroxide from an alkali metal aluminate by preselecting and controlling the pH of the alkali metal aluminate and the addition of certain monohydric and polyhydric alcohols to the alkali metal aluminate solution. Precipitation is controlled to form crystals having a habit or form which varies from principally acicular to principally lamellar crystal forms. This alumina is (a) coated with polybutadiene to form a polymer film layer on the alumina support and (b) the polymer film layer is cross-linked to form a stable polybutadiene coated and crosslinked on a support of acicular or lamellar alumina.