Abstract. In this paper, polymeric hollow fibers prepared from polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate were used as CE columns. Surface modifications with polyacrylamide greatly improved the performance of the capillaries. Separations of substituted pyridines, model proteins and standard ribonucleotides were demonstrated. The column efficiency for model proteins was over 200,000 theoretical plates. Comparisons of electroosmotic flow, UV absorption properties, heat dissipation, and diameter variation between fused silica capillaries and polymeric hollow fibers were made. The practical potential of small diameter polymeric hollow fibers as CE columns was evaluated.

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Abstract. Surface treatment methods were developed for bonding of a polyacrylamide layer on the inside surface of polypropylene hollow fiber columns for capillary electrophoresis. Details of different modification procedures involving surface activation and in situ polymerization, using dynamic and static coating of reagents, are described. Both linear and cross-linked polyacrylamide modified surfaces greatly improved the electrophoretic performance of the capillaries. The column efficiencies for model proteins reached as high as 370,000 theoretical plates on an 85 pm i.d. polyacrylamide surfacetreated polypropylene hollow fiber column. A variety of applications, including the separation of several very polar compounds at a pH of 10.6, were demonstrated. Reproducibility measurements were used to illustrate the performance and high pH stability of the resultant columns.