Open tubular capillary electrokinetic chromatography in etched fused-silica tubes

This review describes an open tubular approach to capillary electrochromato graphy (OTCEC) that first etches the inner surface of the fused-silica tube using ammonium hydrogen diflouride. This process can increase the inner su rface area significantly. The new surface is then chemically modified to at tach a bonded stationary phase using a silanization/hydrosilation reaction process. The surfaces are characterized spectroscopically by diffuse reflec tance infrared Fourier transform and by electroosmotic flow measurements. A pplications of OTCEC columns with C-18, diol and chiral stationary phases a re described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.