Column, capillary wall thickness, limitations

There are two basic disadvantages to the coated capillary column. First, the limited solute retention that results from the small quantity of stationary phase in the column. Second, if a thick film is coated on the column to compensate for this low retention, the film becomes unstable resulting in rapid column deterioration. Initially, attempts were made to increase the stationary-phase loading by increasing the internal surface area of the column. Attempts were first made to etch the internal column surface, which produced very little increase in surface area and very scant improvement. Attempts were then made to coat the internal surface with di-atomaceous earth, to form a hybrid between a packed column and coated capillary. None of the techniques were particularly successful and the work was suddenly eclipsed by the production of immobilize films firmly attached to the tube walls. This solved both the problem of loading, because thick films could be immobilized on the tube surface, and that of phase stability. As a consequence, porous-layer open-tubular (PLOT) columns are not extensively used. The PLOT column, however, has been found to be an attractive alternative to the packed column for gas-solid chromatography (GSC) and effective methods for depositing adsorbents on the tube surface have been developed. 

Open tubular or capillary columns have open unrestricted path for the gas within the column. These columns are about 15-30 meters in length with an inside diameter of about 0.25 mm. The inner wall of these columns is coated with the liquid stationary phase to about 1 m in thickness. The open tubular columns are of two kinds. One is known as the wall coated open tubular column [WCOT) in which the liquid phase is coated on the column wall. These columns have limited sample capacity and are unsuitable for large-scale separations. The second type is known as support coated open tubular columns (SCOT). In these columns a porous layer is formed on the inside wall of the tubing. The porous layer can either be formed by chemical treatment of the inner wall or is deposited on the inner wall. The support is coated in such a way that the inherent property of the capillary columns, i.e., the unrestricted gas flow is retained. The inert porous layer is then impregnated with the liquid stationary phase. These columns have a higher sample capacity. 

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