MODIFICATION OF THE INNER CAPILLARY SURFACE BY THE SOL-GEL METHOD - APPLICATION TO OPEN-TUBULAR ELECTROCHROMATOGRAPHY

The sol-gel procedure was used to prepare an organically modified silica glass coating material which was used as the stationary phase for reversed-phase open tubular electrochromatography. The unique column preparation scheme is simplified by combining the synthesis of the stationary phase and the attachment of the supporting porous glass matrix in a single-step procedure. This approach significantly increases surface area which results in a higher phase ratio. Controlling the amount of the precursor materials used in the sol-gel solution provides a means to adjust the carbon content in the stationary phase. The column performance was evaluated using a test mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; under certain experimental conditions, efficiencies around 500,000 theoretical plates per meter were obtained for some test solutes. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.