Abstract
A portable apparatus for slurry packing high performance microparticulate liquid chromatographic columns is described. The packer offers lab to lab portability and ease of operations. Columns up to 50 cm in length can be accommodated with the described configuration. Material costs per column are $40 – $70, offering a substantial saving over commercially prepared columns, in situations where labor costs are minimal. Efficiencies of columns packed with this apparatus have been equivalent to or better than those obtained with commercially available columns. Columns are packed using a staged pressurization/depressurization method. This method also leads to longer column life. Evaluation of relative column efficiency is also discussed.