Conduct-as-cast polymer monoliths as separation media for capillary electrochromatography

We have developed porous polymer monoliths (PPMs) that are versatile and ro bust reversed-phase chromatography media. The PPMs are cast-to-shape, UV-cu red polymers that form uniform packings within pretreated glass capillaries and fused-silica chips,No applied pressure is ever needed to flush the PPM s since they support electroosmotic flow as cast. Such characteristics make the PPMs useful for chip-based devices: Our results show efficiencies grea ter than or equal to 150 000 plates/m for both capillary and chip-based sep arations of polycpclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By changing the monomers, the hydrophobicity of the polymers, and the direction of the electroosmotic no w can be altered without degrading chromatographic performance. We describe here the development of these acrylate-based materials along with both phy sical and chromatographic characterization.