Aspects of column fabrication for packed capillary electrochromatography

Various parameters have been evaluated to develop a process for optimization of column manufacture for packed capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Spherisorb ODS-1 was packed into 75 microm I.D. capillaries to establish a standard set of packing conditions to afford high-performance columns free of voids. Numerous silica-based packing materials including porous and non-porous reversed-phase and ion-exchange phases were employed to evaluate the applicability of the standard conditions. Success of column manufacture and performance demonstrate a relationship to the colligative properties of the packing materials under the applied conditions. Frequently encountered difficulties arising from inadequate column conditioning and void formation in the packed bed are identified and discussed.