Macroporous photopolymer frits for capillary electrochromatography

Macroporous polymer frits have been fabricated in fused-silica capillaries by the UV photopolymerization of a solution of glycidyl methacrylate and tr imethylolpropane trimethacrylate. This in situ preparation is a simple, rap id, and reproducible process. The hit can be placed at any desired position along the column. Photopolymer hits can withstand the short exposure to a high pressure (over 6000 psi). Bubble formation is not observed to occur wi th these frits under our experimental conditions. By choice of porogens, it is possible to control the porous properties. The use of such frits in cap illaries to retain particles of chromatographic packing has been demonstrat ed to be stable and robust with continuous operation over 3 days.