Shear-driven chromatography: performing high-velocity open-tubular chromatographic separations at zero pressure drop.

摘要

Generating the mobile phase flow using shear-forces originating from a moving wall element allows to surpass the limitations on the mobile phase velocity, the channel diameter and the channel length which exist in pressure-driven chromatography, while all the beneficial characteristics can be retained. The proposed concept hence allows for unprecedented separation speeds and resolutions, and intrinsically leads to a miniaturisation of the equipment. To demonstrate the practical feasibility of the concept, the velocity distribution and the axial dispersion in a shear-driven channel with a flat rectangular cross-section have been investigated. We were able to move a tracer plug at speeds exceeding 2 cm/s through a 0.125 micron thick channel without the help from a presusre or a voltage gradient and without noting any significant peak broadening.