title: Characterization of peak capacity of microbore liquid chromatography columns using gradient kinetic plots.
abstract: The performance of micro-liquid chromatography columns with an inner diameter of 0.3mm was investigated on a dedicated micro-LC system for gradient elution. Core-shell as well as fully porous particle packed columns were compared on the basis of peak capacity and gradient kinetic plot limits. The results for peak capacity showed the superior performance of columns packed with sub-2μm fully porous particles compared to 3.0μm fully porous and 2.7μm core-shell particles within a range of different gradient time to column void time ratios. For ultra-fast chromatography a maximum peak capacity of 16 can be obtained using a 30s gradient for the sub-2μm fully porous particle packed column. A maximum peak capacity of 121 can be achieved using a 5min gradient. In addition, the influence of an alternative detector cell on the basis of optical waveguide technology and contributing less to system variance was investigated showing an increased peak capacity for all applied gradient time/column void time ratios. Finally, the influence of pressure was evaluated indicating increased peak capacity for maximum performance whereas a limited benefit for ultra-fast chromatography with gradient times below 30s was observed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik e. V., IUTA (Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hetzel
authors.affiliation: Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik e. V., IUTA (Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blaesing
authors.affiliation: Instrumental Analysis, Niederrhein University of Applied Science, Frankenring 20, 47798 Krefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.affiliation: Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik e. V., IUTA (Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany. Electronic address: teutenberg@iuta.de.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teutenberg
authors.affiliation: Instrumental Analytical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Torsten C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D011312:Pressure
keywords: Core-shell particles; Fully-porous particles; Gradient elution; Micro-bore columns; Miniaturization; Ultra-fast chromatography