Temperature-programmed packed-capillary liquid chromatographic separation of polystyrenes

Temperature-programmed packed capillary liquid chromatography with UV detec tion has been used for the separation of a wide range of polystyrenes. The low thermal mass of the reversed phase packed capillary columns (0.32-mm in ternal diameter) allowed rapid temperature programming for retention contro l. By the use of temperature gradients as steep as 40 degreesC.min(-1), rap id separations (11 minutes) of polystyrene standards (2000-400000) could be achieved. Furthermore, the oligomers of the polystyrene 1000 standard were resolved using temperature programming. When replacing tetrahydrofurane wi th acetonitrile as mobile phase component, peak splitting within the oligom er peaks was observed, revealing some information about the tacticity of th e polystyrene 1000 sample.