Insights in column packing processes of narrow bore and capillary-scale columns: Methodologies, driving forces, and separation performance – A tutorial review

Having fundamental insights in the properties of stationary phases and in the driving forces during the column packing process, is crucial to obtain highly efficient and robust packed-bed column technologies for use in separation science. Here we discuss the properties of the most commonly-used stationary-phases, i.e., silica particulate materials, including fully-porous and core-shell silica particles and provide an overview of the most commonly used column hardware and available frit technologies. The different packing approaches that are considered are dry packing, high-pressure slurry packing, electrokinetic packing, and packing using centrifugal forces. In particular, sedimentation of particles in slurries and particle interaction during the packing process affecting the resulting sphere packing are discussed.