New, higher performing materials for chromatography

Chromatography is widely used as a method for separating and analysing the constituents of liquids. The speed and accuracy of the technique is limited by the 'back pressure' created as liquids pass through the porous chromatography material.

If this back pressure could be reduced there would real performance gains, as well as cost and time savings to be made, to the benefit of many industries, from healthcare to chemical engineering.

How did you approach the challenge?

We focused on the development of aligned porous materials which could be used as the 'monolithic columns' central to the chromatographic process.

Aligned porous materials have parallel microchannels to conduct liquids in the required way, but they also have connecting pores that can be between 2 and 50 nanometres across.

We saw that by regulating the size and direction of these pores we could significantly reduce 'back pressure' and improve performance.

What was your first goal?

Our first task was to find a way of creating the porous material with the connecting pores in alignment and of the right size.

To achieve this we developed a unique production method. First we directionally froze a solution to align the pores and then we freeze dried the results to create a porous material.

Limitations around the freeze drying process made it difficult to achieve the desired consistency within the material. We eventually overcame this by using polymerisation techniques during the frozen state.

How far has the project progressed?

We've created aligned porous silica and polymer columns that have shown real promise during high performance liquid chromatography tests.

Work was completed in June 2011 but we are now seeking further funding to refine our techniques and progress to patent stage.

Interestingly, the work has led to a new research direction with the Chemistry Department, around polymeric, inorganic and composite materials. These are all suitable as aligned porous materials.

What are the potential benefits of your work?

Aligned porous materials allow faster, more accurate, more cost efficient chromatography, so they'll be attractive to manufacturers and users.

Healthcare labs for example will be able to provide a faster, more accurate analytical service which will benefit doctors and patients. In fact many analytical services will be able to improve its offer to customers.

We also see new applications for the material, outside of chromatography. Within the chemicals industry for instance it could provide a useful medium for creating, developing and manufacturing new chemicals.

The material also shows promise for use in the biomedical and health sectors, as a scaffold for tissue engineering or drug release. Appropriately aligned pores could well be employed to direct cell growth.