Visualization of solute migration in chromatographic columns Influence of the frit porosity

The dual-perspective, on-column detection method previously described was used to observe the effects of the inlet frit on the profiles of chromatographic bands. Visualization of bands of iodine was achieved by injecting its dilute solutions in carbon tetrachloride into a glass column packed with a C18-bonded silica and eluted with carbon tetrachloride, which has the same refractive index as the packing material. The bands were photographed on-column with two standard 35-mm SLR cameras oriented at right angle. The photographs were scanned and the digitized images of the sample bands analyzed with proper software. A number of columns, as similar as possible, were fitted with different 2- and 10-μm porosity stainless steel frits. Subsequent analysis of the digitized band images revealed irregularities in the band shape resulting from frit contributions to band dispersion. The 2-μm frits produced more dramatic effects overall than the coarser frits. Local axial dispersion coefficient values, expressed as local reduced plate height, were calculated. The results demonstrate the possibly damaging effects of the frit on the band shape.