A method for thermally stabilizing two columns for liquid chromatography comprises the following steps: operating the first column at a first temperature which is different from the operating temperature of the second column, and transferring the sample contained in the first column to the second column by operation of switching means arranged between the two columns. In an embodiment of the invention, the first column is a pre-column (102) and the pre-column is operated, during an enrichment phase, at a first temperature lower than an operating temperature of the separation column, in order to maintain a sample at a first temperature, the sample contained in the pre-column is heated, after completion of the enrichment phase, to a second temperature higher than the operating temperature of the separation column (104), then the sample contained in the pre-column (102) is transferred to the separation column and then the sample is cooled to the operating temperature of the separation column. IMAGE
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