FREEZE-THAW FLOW MANAGEMENT - A NOVEL CONCEPT FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY, CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS, ELECTROCHROMATOGRAPHY AND ASSOCIATED TECHNIQUES

A new method for managing flow in capillaries or narrow channels is de scribed. The fluid is made to act as its own shut-off valve by freezin g the contents of a small section of the tube. In particular flow can thereby be diverted to further tube(s), forming the basis of an innova tive flow switching device that requires no moving parts and contribut es no dead volume. The principle of the method is demonstrated, and it is shown that full exploitation of the technique will require the dev elopment of junctions with very low dead volumes. Some advantages of t his advance are discussed.