HYDRODYNAMIC CHROMATOGRAPHY OF POLYMERS IN PACKED-COLUMNS

Hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) of linear random coil polymers in co lumns packed with 1.5-mu m non-porous particles was investigated. For polymers with high molecular masses (10(4)-10(7)), the resolution appe ars to be almost independent of the eluent velocity. This allows for h igh-speed polymer separations with high efficiency. A model for the mi gration rate of polymers, based on the assumption that interstitial ch annels in a packed column can be represented by a bundle of capillary tubes, is compared with experimental elution data. The influence of po lymer size and type, solvent goodness and mobile phase velocity on elu tion in HDC was investigated. Elution behaviour in packed columns appe ars to obey basically the simple migration theories developed for open tubes. The relative peak positions in the HDC trace depend slightly o n the eluent velocity.