Visualising the onset of viscous fingering in chromatography columns

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Journal of Chromatography A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2006.03.074· OSTI ID:989614

Catchpoole, Heather J ^[1]; Shalliker, R Andrew ^[1]; Dennis, Gary ^[1]; Guiochon, Georges A ^[2]

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1. University of Western Sydney, Australia
2. ORNL

Viscous fingering is an important fluid transport phenomenon that manifests itself when two fluids having different viscosities move in the same direction. Their interface is unstable and a complex fingering pattern may arise. This phenomenon is important in chromatography because it may lead to a decrease or even a failure in separations. The onset of viscous fingering was visually observed by packing a glass column with particles having the same refractive index as the mobile phase and injecting plugs of dye solutions having viscosities different from that of the mobile phase. Severe fingering effects are observed if the viscosity difference exceeds 0.17 cP. However, for smaller viscosity differences, band distortions are observed that may affect retention data, band efficiency, and band resolution. Careful attention should be paid to matching the mobile phase viscosity and that of the injection plug when accurate chromatographic information is required.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 989614
• Journal Information: Journal of Chromatography A, Journal Name: Journal of Chromatography A Journal Issue: 2006 Vol. 1117; ISSN 0021-9673
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
COLUMN PACKING
DYES
EFFICIENCY
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FLOW VISUALIZATION
FLUID FLOW
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
PERFORMANCE
VISCOSITY
band dispersion
onset of viscous fingering
viscosity contrast
viscous fingering