Surface Modified Open-Pore Polyurethane Packings for Liquid Chromatography

Synthesis and retention behavior of surface-modified OPP column packings are described. Preparations of both hydroxyl- and nitrile- rich surfaces are reported. Separations in the reversed-phase mode are shown to be possible using an EPON-baeed, in situ-formed OPP. Plate number efficiencies of these columns can be increased by ≈ 60% when multiple in situ polymerizations are performed. Finally, moderately efficient, microcapillary-sized OPP columns (2.9m × 300µm i.d.) are prepared. Such columns can be operated at high flow velocities permitting analysis times comparable to conventional-sized, silica-based columns to be achieved.