Temperature pulsing for controlling chromatographic resolution in capillary liquid chromatography

In this study we introduce the implementation of rapid temperature pulses for selectivity tuning in capillary liquid chromatography. Short temperature pulses improved resolution in discrete sections of chromatograms, demonstrated for ion-exchange chromatography (IC) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) modes. Using a resistively heated column module capable of accurate and rapid temperature changes, this concept is first illustrated with separations of small anions by IC using a packed capillary column as well as a series of nucleobases and nucleosides by HILIC using a silica monolithic column with zwitterionic functionality (ZIC-HILIC). Both positive (increasing temperature) and negative temperature pulses are demonstrated to produce significant changes in selectivity and are useful approaches for improving resolution between coeluted compounds. The approach was shown to be reproducible over a large number of replicates. Finally, the use of temperature gradients as well as other complex temperature profiles was also examined for both IC and HILIC separations.