The pore structure of zirconia for liquid chromatography

Interest in zirconia as a chromatography support has increased considerably recently because of its chemical inertness and its promise as a useful support, particularly in biological systems. While studies have mainly focused on applications using zirconia or the control of complex elution behaviour that is often observed on this surface, many of the papers presented have not considered the importance of using materials with optimised pore structures. As a result, the efficiency of some separations may have been compromised. In this review we focus on what is perhaps the most important feature of such supports, namely, the pore structure and recent developments in this area. We have not attempted to review the many applications of zirconia in chromatography as they have been comprehensively reviewed by Nawrocki and co-workers in 1993 and again as a new material for biotechnology in 1994. In these reviews the usefulness of zirconia was demonstrated by the many applications that were referenced, particularly with respect to the chromatography of biological species.