POLYMERIC HOLLOW FIBERS FOR CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

In this paper, polymeric hollow fibers prepared from polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate were used as CE columns. Surface modifications with polyacrylamide greatly improved the performance of the capillaries. Separations of substituted pyridines, model proteins and standard ribonucleotides were demonstrated. The column efficiency for model proteins was over 200,000 theoretical plates. Comparisons of electroosmotic flow, UV absorption properties, heat dissipation, and diameter variation between fused silica capillaries and polymeric hollow fibers were made. The practical potential of small diameter polymeric hollow fibers as CE columns was evaluated.