Evaluation of the secondary consolidation of columns for liquid chromatography by ultrasonic irradiation

The consolidation of packed analytical chromatography columns was carried o ut under ultrasonic irradiation. Columns were first packed using a conventi onal high pressure downward slurry method. Then, they were subjected to fur ther bed consolidation in the presence of ultrasonic vibration. This proces s of further bed consolidation is referred to as secondary consolidation. S econdary consolidation was observed to occur more readily in solvents of lo w viscosity and at low flow-rates (low pressures). Column efficiency was no t observed to be a factor affecting the process of secondary consolidation of the packed bed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.