Miniature circulatory column system for gas chromatography

This paper presents the first micro-scale circulatory column system that enables the extension of the effective column length through the circulatory loop without increasing the device volume, thus ultimately achieving ultra-high separation capacity. The circulatory column system consists of two 25-cm micro columns and six mini valves to produce circulatory Chromatographie separation. The fabricated column system (1) demonstrated the highest theoretical plate number per length-pressure of 206plates/m-kPa ever reported, enhancement in the detection capacity by 66% compared to the literature; (2) accomplished the longest effective micro column length of 5 meters ever reported; and (3) demonstrated the first micro-scale circulatory separation of target gas molecules up to 10 turns through a set of two 25-cm micro columns.