Monolithic porous silica columns porosity

Another approach is the use of monolithic columns consisting of silica based rods of bimodal pore structure. They contain macropores (-1-2 pm) and smaller mesopores ( 10-20nm) [38]. The macropores allow for low backpressure at high flow rates. The mesopores provide the needed surface area for interactions between the solute and stationary phase. The macropores result in higher total porosity as compared to porous silica particles. Flow rates of 5 mL/min can be tolerated on a 10-cm column without an appreciable loss in... 

Monolithic columns are another approach to provide lower pressure drops and higher rates of mass transfer. These are continuous solid columns of porous silica stationary phase instead of packed particles. Like perfusion packings, they have a bimodal pore structure (Figure 21.7). Macropores, which act as flowthrough pores, are about 2 fim in diameter. The silica skeleton contains mesopores with diameters of about 13 nm (130 A). It can be surface modified with stationary phases like Cig. The rod is shrink-wrapped in a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) plastic holder to prevent waU effects of solution flowing along the walls. The surface area of the mesopores is about 300 mVg, and the total porosity is 80%, compared with 65% for packed particles. The colunm exhibits a van Deemter curve approximating... 

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