Benefits

• Solvent consumption reduced by 80-95%
• Significant cost-saving
• Sensitivity increased x5 to x21
• LC-MS applications

Microbore columns (1.0 and 2.1 mm i.d. traditionally packed) Column Design and capillary columns (<1 mm i.d.) offer significant theoretical advantages over conventional 4.6 mm i.d. columns. However, current instrumental constraints and manufacturing difficulties have limited their application, especially the narrower 1mm  internal diameter and capillary columns.

With this in mind we currently offer a comprehensive range of 1.0 and 2.1 mm i.d. microbore columns. Our  microbore columns are packed by Hichrom worlds most competent column packer. They offer minimal loss of performance compared to the corresponding analytical columns and can be used with optimised conventional equipment.

Column Design

Columns are manufactured from high quality 316 stainless steel tubing. Both column ends are terminated with standard 1/4 -1/16" female reducing unions. Stainless steel frits inset into a PEEK ring (traditional) or PEEK cap (modular cartridge) are used to retain the packing material.

Comparison of Microbore and Standard Column Parameters

Column Evaluation

Microbore columns often perform poorly because of excessive system dead volume.
Most HPLC systems in use today are designed for standard bore columns and cannot effectively use columns with internal volumes less than 0.5 ml. The extra column volume measured from the injector through to the detector reduces the achievable efficiency of the column. If the calculated theoretical plate value is less than 90% of that measured by the manufacturer, there is probably an excessive amount of extra column volume in the system for the column being used. Early eluting peaks are less diluted and have smaller volumes than later eluting peaks and will consequently be more susceptible to the detrimental effects of excessive extra column volume.

Table 1 Connection tubing internal volumes