Comparison of spherically and irregularly shaped stationary phase packings in microcolumn liquid chromatography

Spherically and irregularly shaped reversed phase packings were used to slurry pack capillary fused silica columns. The selection of the packing solvents was based on the colloidal properties of the stationary phase particles and investigated by sedimentation experiments. The chromatographic performance of the microcolumns was measured with conventional parameters from plate and rate theories, and the column resistance parameter and separation impedance. Also studied was the time of analysis. The performance of spherical and irregular packings was comparable with a light preference for spherically shaped materials when time of analysis is concerned