Abstract
The advantages of using micropacked columns with low packing density and liquid stationary phases, which are currently used in gas chromatography, in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) have been studied. An equation fitted to 199 experimental data is proposed to describe the relationship between the plate height and the linear mobile phase velocity of the mobile phase in a micropacked column. A comparison of the performances of micropacked, open capillary, and standard packed columns in SFC is presented. The pressure drop at the optimal linear velocity per unit column length and per theoretical plate were evaluated and considered comparatively. Chromatographic efficiency, resolution, speed of analysis, and separation impedance achievable with each column were also evaluated. Preliminary results with column pressure drops similar to those of open tubular columns look promising. Data obtained lead to the conclusion that the use of large particle micropacked columns in SFC could be a suitable approach for the analysis of samples of medium complexity, where trace compound detection may require the use of columns having high sample capacities as well as high specific efficiencies.