ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on developments in the use of temperature to improve separations by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Temperature-assisted solute focusing can also be used to induce focusing effects alone or in combination with solvent focusing by manipulating column temperature. Actively changing the temperature outside a column leads to radial temperature gradients within the column. Band broadening is induced by radial temperature gradients as retention factor and viscosity are both temperature-dependent. The major design challenge relates to the need for rapid changes in column temperature. The use of high temperature and extremes of pH require stationary phases that are stable under these conditions. The primary benefits of these metal oxides are their high mechanical strength with excellent temperature and pH stability. Chromatographic efficiency decreases specific inlet pressures while average eluent temperature increases. An additional concern of adiabatic columns is that a steeper axial temperature gradient is present when compared with traditional thermostatted columns.
