Using Radial Flow Stream Splitting Columns to Enable High Through-Put High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for the Analysis of Low Molecular Weight Polystyrenes Using UV/Vis and Charged Aerosol Detection

Mass-based detectors, such as, the charged aerosol detector are limited to relatively low flow rates since the mobile phase needs to be removed prior to the detection source. A new column technology, referred to as radial flow stream splitting (RFS) whereby flow can be separated in the radial cross flow directly within the outlet of the chromatography column, enables separations to be undertaken at high flow rates, with high efficiency, but low volume load to the detector. In this study we show the improvement in the separation performance of low molecular weight polystyrenes using columns fitted with RFS end fittings and dual detection with a charged aerosol detector and a UV detector in parallel. There is a reduction in operation pressure by 30% and then a subsequent increase in analysis time by up to three to fourfold, where the detection source is ordinarily flow rate limited. Subsequently, flow rates up to 8 mL/min were tested with some separations being completed within 4 min.