Performance of laterally elongated pillar array columns in capillary electrochromatography mode

In the present study, cylindrical and laterally elongated pillar array columns were investigated for use in capillary electrochromatography. Minimal theoretical plate heights of H = 1.90 and 1.46 μm (in absence of sidewall effect) were obtained for coumarin C440 under unretained conditions for cylindrical and rectangular (laterally elongated, aspect ratio 4) pillar array columns, respectively. By comparing dispersion at the entire channel width to that at the central zone only, it appears that sidewall related dispersion significantly contributes to overall dispersion. A 40% reduction of the plate height was observed by taking into account only the central channel zone. A kinetic plot analysis was performed to evaluate the potential of the studied geometries by considering a maximum operating voltage of 20 kV as limiting parameter. It was demonstrated that rectangular radially elongated pillars produce a higher efficiency than cylindrical pillars and other microfabricated column structures for microchip capillary electrochromatography previously studied.     

平面二维毛细管电泳初探

在石英单晶表面制成短形截面的毛细管柱上进行了电泳实验。由于矩形柱比国形住有更大散热侧面积且石英单晶的导热性能远远优于熔融石英,所以可施加较高的场强,不仅提高了住效,而且缩短了分离时间。两个相交的通道之间形成自然连接,可实现二维分离,并消除了死体积。     

A simple and efficient approach for calculating permeability coefficients and HETP for rectangular columns

There had been little progress in development of the theoretical basis of rectangular chromatography columns until Spangler made great progress by using a more exact model than Golay's. Unfortunately, there was a deficiency in his calculations, which led to a conclusion inconsistent with the previous theories. In this paper, a simpler formula with defined variables was first established to calculate the mean permeability coefficient for a rectangular GC column. A formula was also established to calculate the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) for a rectangular column based on this work and the correction of Spangler's theory. By comparing both our predictions and Spangler's predictions with Golay's, respectively, we could demonstrate that our theory is more exact. Further, one parameter (A) was found to be not monotonous. This finding leads to the conclusion that the square column has the highest performance among all the rectangular-shaped columns used for chromatography, and that a width/depth ratio of around three is desirable if the column is used for mixing reactants in lab-on-a-chip systems, instead of for chromatography. The conclusions are applicable not only for gas but also for liquid chromatography columns.     

Study of the influence of the aspect ratio on efficiency, flow resistance and retention factors of packed capillary columns in pressure- and electrically-driven liquid chromatography

The influence of the aspect ratio, rho (rho = column diameter/particle diameter), on column parameters such as efficiency, retention factors and flow resistance was studied in both high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography with packed capillary columns. In order to compare the true efficiencies of different columns, a procedure to account for external band broadening was applied. High efficiencies (reduced plate height h approximately 2) were obtained with capillary columns with internal diameters of 150-, 100-, and 75-microm, packed with 10-microm particles. In contrast to previous reports in the literature, no significant improvements in efficiency or flow resistance were observed when the aspect ratio of such columns was decreased. Our observations suggest that the wall effect in these types of columns is not significant. When the aspect ratio was decreased by increasing the particle size, a decrease in reduced plate height was observed. However, the results of flow resistance measurements showed that the latter effect should be attributed to differences in packing and particle batch quality rather than to differences in the aspect ratio.     

Behavior of packing materials in axially compressed chromatographic columns

The behavior of a packing material (Luna C18 from Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA) was studied during the consolidation of a column bed under axial compression stress. The kinetics of this consolidation, the permeability and efficiency of the columns obtained, and the reproducibility of these column properties were measured under different conditions. The consolidation process and the column properties are considerably affected by the friction between the packing material in the bed and the column wall. Clear evidence of this wall effect was demonstrated. The apparent permeability of columns consolidated under the same axial stress increases with increasing column length. The apparent modulus of elasticity of the beds increases with increasing column length. The shear resistance between the packed bed and the column wall was measured for columns of different lengths. It increases rapidly with increasing bed length. The column efficiency for thiourea (unretained) and phenyloctane (retention factor, k' approximately 1) was much poorer after recompression than after the first compression. It depended little on the compression stress. The effect of the column length was small.     

Diffusioosmotic flow in rectangular microchannels

The diffusioosmosis of an electrolyte solution inside a uniformly charged rectangular channel at steady locally developed conditions is the subject of this study. Utilizing a finite element based numerical procedure, we try to estimate the errors incurred by modeling the actual rectangular geometry of typical microchannels as a slit. We demonstrate that the flow pattern and direction are generally dependent upon the width‐to‐height ratio of the channel. Such a finding, besides showing the ineffectiveness of the slit geometry in representing a rectangular channel of small aspect ratio, informs us of another mechanism of controlling the diffusioosmotic flow. Inspections of the mean velocity reveal that, although it drastically grows by increasing the aspect ratio at smaller values of this parameter, no significant change is observed when the aspect ratio is 5 or higher. The same trend is observed when EDL is shrunk and is considered as a basis for the introduction of a slip‐like velocity, similar to the concept of the Helmholtz–Smoluchowski electroosmotic velocity, which will be of high practical importance when dealing with a micronsized channel. Because of its significance, an expression is presented for this slip velocity utilizing the curve fitting of the results, assuming a typical Peclet number.     

Butyl acrylate porous polymer monoliths in fused-silica capillaries for use in capillary electrochromatography

Capillary electrochromatography incorporates features of both capillary electrophoresis and liquid chromatography. Butyl acrylate polymers, cast in-situ with heat initiated polymerization and no retaining frits have been made. Van Deemter plots of chrysene have been examined at a variety of operating temperatures to examine column behavior. Hmin moves to faster flow-rates and increases slightly in magnitude as temperature is increased. The longevity and reproducibility of the columns have been examined with a homologous series. Performance is very reproducible between two different columns of different diameters, operated on different systems and prepared from the same polymeriation batch. The relative standard deviation of retention factors is a maximum of 3.1% with most values calculated at less than 1%. The uniformity of the polymers as a function of length has also been studied with a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the columns have proved to be very uniform across their length as measured by the consistency of retention factors with a maximum relative standard deviation of 3.4% and most values calculated between 1 and 2%. Plate numbers of between 65000 and 80000 plates/m have been attained for compounds with retention factors of 3 to 12. These columns have proved easy to make, are quite reproducible, and long lived.     

真实峰数及气相色谱的其它柱效参数

以半峰宽与保留数据的线性关系为基础,对真实峰数ＲＰＮ（ＲｅａｌＰｅａｋＮｕｍｂｅｒ）与其它柱效参数作了比较与讨论。指出用无限大容量比理论板数Ｎ＿（ｉｎｆ）不能真实反映有限容量比区间的柱效。由于柱温变化,用有效板数Ｎ＿（ｅｆｆ）评价柱效有不确切性。ＴＺ＿（１０）是一个较好的参数,但对峰宽线性关系作了较大地简化。而ＲＰＮ与ＴＺ＿（１０）具有同样的物理意义,对峰宽变化未作任何简化处理,是一个较完善的柱效参数。由不同极性同系物所得的ＲＰＮ与ＴＺ＿（１０）都没有显著差别。     

EOF using the Ritz method: application to superelliptic microchannels

An efficient Ritz method is developed from the variational principle to solve the Poisson-Boltzmann equation under the Debye-Hückel approximation for studying the EOF in microchannels. The method is applied to the family of superelliptic cross sections which includes the elliptic channel and the rectangular channel as limiting cases. Several accurate tables presented are useful for design of electroosmotic channels, especially rectangular channels with rounded corners. It is shown how the flow rate Q is a sophisticated consequence of the nondimensional electrokinetic width K, the aspect ratio b as well as the superelliptic exponent n.     

Simulation and Evaluation of the Silicon-Micromachined Columns for Gas Chromatography

In this paper, the impact of airflow velocity and pressure in the two popular configuration gas chromatography (GC) column channels (the serpentine channel and the spiral channel) was simulated and evaluated using ANSYS dynamic analysis. The simulated result of airflow velocity and pressure distribution in the Gas chromatography (GC) channel shows that the impact in the spiral channel corner is smaller than that in the serpentine channel corner. So, the spiral channel columns were fabricated based on the MEMS technology and the stationary phase OV‐1 was coated using a dynamic procedure. The separation performance of the 3 m non‐polar GC column shows perfect separation efficiency for the non‐polar components, the microfabricated GC column yields 7100 theoretical plate, and the analysis time is less than 200 s.     

Microfabricated Monolith Columns for Liquid Chromatography. Sculpting Supports for Liquid Chromatography

Monolith columns are generally fabricated by polymerization of monomers within a column. This paper reviews an alternative strategy in which the bed is microfabricated in an inorganic material by ablation. Channels of 1.5 μm width and 10 μm depth were sculpted in quartz by deep reaction ion etching. Using this approach chromatographic beds were constructed in which cubic support structures were created and arranged in rows to mimic particles in a conventional column. Beds ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of “particles” with volumes of 15 nL to 15 μL were produced. Columns that had been derivatized with an octadecyl silane stationary phase were used to separate both low molecular weight analytes and peptides in the CEC mode. Plate height in the CEC mode was 1.2 μm at maximum efficiency.     

程序涂渍色谱柱的研究

程序涂渍色谱柱即柱内固定液和载体的比例按一定程序变化,合理安排可缩短高沸组分的保留时间,提高柱效,因而具有一定的实际意义。本文对程序涂渍的实践和理论问题进行了初步的探讨。     

Characterization of retentivity of reversed phase liquid chromatography columns

There are dozens of commercially available reversed phase columns, most marketed as C-8 or C-18 materials, but with no useful way of classifying their retentivity. A useful way of ranking these columns in terms of column "strength" or retentivity is presented. The method utilizes a value for ln k'(w), the estimated retention of a solute from a mobile phase of 100% water, and the slope of the plot of ln k' vsE(T)(30), the solvent polarity. The method is validated with 26 solutes varying in ln k'(w) from about 2 to over 20, on 14 different reversed phase columns. In agreement with previous work, it is found that the phase volume ratio of the column is the most important parameter in determining retentivity. It is strongly suggested that manufacturers adopt a uniform method of calculating this value and that it be made available in advertising, rather than the uninterpretable "% carbon".     

样品可否采用气相色谱法的判断

本文首先提出了在柱温下稳定的样品采用气相色谱法的两个基本条件,进而给出了是否满足k~′和K_1要求的判断方法。只要组分:①能以合适的是k~′从气相色谱柱中流出,②分离度K_1满足要求,样品即可考虑用气相色谱法,由检测器检测要求而引起的在溶质蒸汽压上的限制不是主要因素(检测器:FID),对k~′,可通过固定相特性参数结合柱子最高最低使用温度来进行判断;同时运用相应碳链长度(CCCL)概念、借助于结构和保留的关系,可求得不同物种在不同柱上满足k~′条件的碳数范围。而K_1的判断,如果给定柱系统中峰容量足够,链状化合物位置异构体间差异足够大,就可认为满足条件。     

Continuous-flow single-molecule CE with high detection efficiency

This paper describes the use of two-beam line-confocal detection geometry for measuring the total mobility of individual molecules undergoing continuous-flow CE separation. High-sensitivity single-molecule confocal detection is usually performed with a diffraction limited focal spot (approximately 500 nm in diameter), which necessitates the use of nanometer-sized channels to ensure all molecules flow through the detection volume. To allow for the use of larger channels that are a few micrometers in width, we employed cylindrical optics to define a rectangular illumination area that is diffraction-limited (approximately 500 nm) in width, but a few micrometers in length to match the width of the microchannel. We present detailed studies that compare the performance of this line-confocal detection geometry with the more widely used point-confocal geometry. Overall, we found line-confocal detection to provide the highest combination of signal-to-background ratio and spatial detection efficiency when used with micrometer-sized channels. For example, in a 2 microm wide channel we achieved a 94% overall detection efficiency for single Alexa488 dye molecules when a 2 microm x 0.5 microm illumination area was used, but only 34% detection efficiency with a 0.5 microm-diameter detection spot. To carry out continuous-flow CE, we used two-beam fluorescent cross-correlation spectroscopy where the transit time of each molecule is determined by cross-correlating the fluorescence registered by two spatially offset line-confocal detectors. We successfully separated single molecules of FITC, FITC-tagged glutamate, and FITC-tagged glycine.     

Chromatographic separation of simulants of nerve and blister agents by combining one‐ and two‐channel columns with different stationary phases

A two‐channel gas chromatography column and a single‐channel column were made by deep reactive‐ion etching technology. The two short columns were coated with different stationary phases, and then linked without a modulator. This is to aim at increasing the sample capacity and achieving a higher separation efficiency in complex environments. The results show that the capacity of the connected column is approximately 4 and 1.5 times larger than that of the single‐ and two‐channel columns, respectively. The linked column was utilized to separate a six‐component mixture, composed of three simulants of nerve and blister agents and three interfering vapors. The results demonstrate that the combined column has a remarkably higher separation efficiency than the individual columns, and an acceptable resolution is achieved although the total length of the linked column is only 1.5 m.     

Temperature gradients in HPLC columns due to viscous heat dissipation

Summary Temperature effects in HPLC columns due to viscous heat dissipation are examined. For the case when the thermostatted column wall and mobile phase at the column inlet are at the same temperature an explicit solution of the heat transport equation is given. The predicted temperature profile is parabolic at large distances from the column entrance; the magnitude of the effect is proportional to the square of the mobile phase velocity, and is of the order of a few degrees centigrade. At the upper end of the column a relaxation occurs over a length of a few centimers. Experimental results confirm the validity of the predictions made and indicate that the various assumptions and approximations are justified. Plate height curves obtained with two mobile phases with differing viscosities show a much smaller efficiency for the less viscous mobile phase. The curves show an upward curvature at high reduced velocities. Both phenomena can be related to thermal effects. It is concluded that viscous heat dissipation constitutes an obstacle to obtaining higher speed and efficiency in HPLC by the use of smaller particles. Possible remedies, such as the use of smaller bore columns or special thermostatting devices, look troublesome from the experimental point of view.     

High speed liquid-solid chromatography of phenothiazines using columns packed with spherosil porous silica beads.

Spherosil, a spherical porous silica, has been investigated for use in high speed liquid-solid chromatography and compared to Lichrosorb Si-60, using three phenothiazines as test solutes. Particle size distribution for four different size ranges with nominal mean diameters of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mu m is given. Distribution is very homogeneous. Columns from 15 to 100 cm in length and 1/4 or 1/8 in.o.d. have been prepared and efficiency measured by determination of HETP with the three phenothiazines: [methylamino-3-propyl]-10-chloro-3-phenothiazine [k' = 3]; [N-methyl-N-[dimethylamino-3-propyl]amino-3-propyl]-10-chloro-3-phenothiazine [k' = 6.5]; and [dimethylamino-3-propyl]-10-chloro-3-phenothiazine-N-oxide [k' = 15]. Influence of column length and incidence of bead diameter have been studied. 1/4 in.o.d. columns are easier to fill than 1/8 in.o.d. columns for Spherosil 5 mu m and have, therefore, a greater efficiency. HETP, H, varies according to flow rate as H = DVn with 0.4 less than n less than 0.6 and according to particle size ad H = A d beta p with 1.7 less than beta less than 1.8. The best figures for H are between 0.1 or 0.2 mm for a flow rate of 1800 ml hr-1 cm-2 [k' = 15]. The separation of a mixture of 6 phenothiazines with the mobile phase, anhydrous ethyl acetate 60 V, water saturated ethyl acetate 20 V, anhydrous methanol 20 V, 33% aqueous solution of ethylamine 0.25 V, is given. Its duration is 20 min. instead of 90 min. by thin-layer chromatography.     

Separation of polystyrenes by means of open tubular capillary chromatography

Simulating polymer separation in flow-through channels of monolithic columns, separation of a mixture of polystyrene standards was investigated using open tubular capillary column of 2 μm inner diameter. High column efficiency was observed for polymers of molar mass ranged from few tens to few hundred kDas. Column efficiency significantly decreased for polymers with molar mass larger than 500 kDa nevertheless preserving value of few tens of thousands theoretical plates. Calibration curve observed for open capillary column is rather steep and can be well described by simple equation without quadratic term. In spite of low selectivity, capillary columns were able in separating wide range of polystyrene standards due to column high efficiency and in such a way supported an idea of hydrodynamic mechanism of polymer separation in flow-through channel of monolithic packings.     

Study of conical columns with 10 degrees opening angle for preparative liquid chromatography

The efficiency and sample capacity of conical liquid chromatographic columns with 10 degrees opening angle were studied at different ratio of cross section areas of inlet to outlet (A(in)/A(out)) and column dimension. As the A(in)/A(out) ratio changed from 4 to 2.25, the reduced plate height (h) was reduced and the h value decreased 12% when the column dimension was scaled up proportionally because of relatively smaller dead volume on both end of the column. Compared to cylindrical columns having corresponding lengths and volumes, the conical columns with 10 degrees opening angle were superior in column efficiency, resolution and the maximum peak concentration at column outlet; the loadability of conical column was improved 30-40% on injection volume and 50-60% on sample mass, respectively, over cylindrical columns.