Rapid Preparation of Methacrylate Capillary Monolithic Columns by Photopolymerization

An organic-based monolithic column was quickly prepared inside the fused-silica capillary,and in situ photopolymerization was carried out in 150 s,using butyl-methacrylate(BMA) as a functional monomer,ethylene glycol dimethacrylate(EDMA) as a cross-linking agent,1-propanol,1,4-butanediol and water as porogenic solvents and Irgacure 1800 as an initiator.The electrophoretic and chromatographic behavior was comparatively evaluated using pressure-assisted CEC(p-CEC),CEC and low pressure-assisted liquid chromatography modes(LPLC).Baseline separation of the model analytes was respectively achieved including thiourea,toluene,naphthalene and biphenyl with the lowest theoretical height up to 8.0 μm for thiourea in the mode of p-CEC.A scanning electron micrograph of a cross-section of the capillary column shows that the monolithic columms were formed in the center of the capillary and adhered to the column inner wall.