Octyl-type monolithic columns of 530 μm i.d. for capillary liquid chromatography

A novel monolithic capillary column (530 μm i.d.) was prepared for capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) by in situ copolymerization of octyl methacrylate (MAOE) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in the presence of a porogen solvent containing 1-propanol, 1,4-butanediol, and water with azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. The influences of the contents of the porogen solvent, EDMA and the various concentration ratios of 1-propanol to 1,4-butanediol in the polymerization mixture on the morphology, porosity, globule size, stability and column efficiency were investigated. The morphology and pore size distribution of monolithic capillary columns were characterized by SEM and mercury intrusion porosimetry, respectively. Chromatographic evaluations of the columns were performed under CLC mode. The results showed that good permeability and stability can be obtained under optimal experimental conditions. The separation results of some acid, neutral and basic analytes demonstrated the hydrophobicity and low affinity to basic analytes of the new column. Three metal ions, i.e. Mg(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) were also separated under ion-pair mode on the new monolithic capillary column and the results were acceptable.