Evaluation of the secondary consolidation of columns for liquid chromatography by ultrasonic irradiation

The consolidation of packed analytical chromatography columns was carried out under ultrasonic irradiation. Columns were first packed using a conventional high pressure downward slurry method. Then, they were subjected to further bed consolidation in the presence of ultrasonic vibration. This process of further bed consolidation is referred to as secondary consolidation. Secondary consolidation was observed to occur more readily in solvents of low viscosity and at low flow-rates (low pressures). Column efficiency was not observed to be a factor affecting the process of secondary consolidation of the packed bed.