Simplification of capillary electrochromatography procedures

A simplified packing and operating procedure for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has been developed which draws from some of the more accessible features of published practice. The key elements of this methodology are use of an end-fitting and Frit from a I-mm microbore column in the initial phase of the packing, use of a conventional constant-flow HPLC pump for capillary packing, conditioning of the packed capillary using a conventional constant-flow HPLC pump with flow splitting, bedding down of the packed capillary under an electric field while fitted into the CE instrument and operation without pressurisation and without an end frit. Working in such a manner, CEC was carried out on a commercial test mixture and mixtures of steroids. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.