Open-tubular capillary columns with a porous layer of monolithic polymer for highly efficient and fast separations in electrochromatography

Open-tubular columns for CEC separations having inner-wall coated with a thin layer of porous monolithic polymer have been studied. A two-step process including (i) UV-initiated polymerization leading to a layer of porous poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate), and (ii) UV-initiated grafting of ionizable monomers appear to be well suited for the preparation of these columns. The thickness of the porous polymer layer is controlled by the percentage of monomers in the polymerization mixture and/or length of the irradiation time. The layer thickness significantly affects retention, efficiency, and resolution in open-tubular CEC. Under optimized conditions, column efficiencies up to 400,000 plates/m can be achieved. Use of higher temperature and application of pressure enables a significant acceleration of the open-tubular CEC separations.