Surface Deactivation in Glass Capillary Columns and Its Investigation by Auger Electron Spectroscopy

Abstract

Surface deactivation in the preparation of glass capillary columns was studied using different acid leaching procedures. Surface analysis by Auger electron spectroscopy both before and after heat treatment of these capillaries provided information on the extent of leaching associated 1 Present address, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 with each procedure. Results suggest that Pyrex glass which has been leached with 19% HC1 solution at 100°C is essentially pure SiO₂ except for a significant amount of surface carbon contamination. Furthermore, heat treatment of soda-lime glass with gaseous HC1 followed by formic acid leaching achieves nearly complete deactivation. Chromatographic results verify these observations.