High Temperature Size Exclusion Chromatography for High Throughput Analysis

With a modern size exclusion chromatography (SEC) column, molecular weight analysis of a polymer sample takes about 10 min. However, it is desirable to reduce the analysis time further, in particular, for high throughput measurements required in combinatorial analyses or 2D-HPLC analyses. We implemented the high temperature SEC for the purpose. By inserting a narrow bore tubing between the column and the detector, a sufficient backpressure can be maintained to prevent the mobile phase from boiling and the effluent is cooled down enough when it reaches the detector. Therefore, a normal SEC detector can be used without any modification. The SEC resolution is greatly improved at the elevated temperature at high flow rate which allows high speed operation.