The objective of this project is to use plasma induced polymerization for the preparation of new High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) supports. Monomers will be polymerized on silica surfaces to form thin, pin hole free chromatographic supports whose silanol sites are deactivated by the polymer coating. Other rigid supports, such as alumina, will be evaluated with the objective to prepare alkali stable chromatographic supports. Chromatographic evaluations will be performed using both small molecule and large molecule standard probes. The above process, unlike conventional silane bonding, does not require a large chemical facility, or the use of large quantities of reactants and wash solvents, or long reaction times. In addition, the resulting novel chromatographic supports should have better separation efficiencies with improved stability, reproducibility, and be scaleable from analytical to preparative separation modes.
