USE OF SHORT COLUMNS AND HIGH-FLOW RATES FOR RAPID GRADIENT REVERSED-PHASE CHROMATOGRAPHY

Rapid analyses were performed using reversed-phase liquid chromatograp hy with short (20-100 mm) columns swept by fast yet shallow gradients, and the results compared with those obtained with 150 mm columns and slow gradients. The resolution losses incurred with shorter columns we re minimised by employing elevated flow rates, to ensure that comparab le mean retention factors were experienced by individual analytes duri ng gradients run on different columns. This conserves gradient steepne ss. High quality performance was obtained with turn-around times of 5- 10 minutes. An overall 5-fold enhancement in the rate of information g eneration was obtained. The relevance of instrumental parameters and o f column and packing dimensions upon the potential for improved perfor mance is discussed. Some implications for the rapidly developing techn ique of capillary electrochromatography are briefly indicated.