Open tubular liquid-chromatography and the analysis of single neurons

Liquid chromatography in open tubular columns (OTLC) offers a means of achieving separations of high resolving power within analysis times of minutes to hours. A theory which predicts the optimal dimensions for an open tubular column for a given set of analytical conditions has been developed [1]. This theory predicts that for a wide range of possible inlet pressures and analysis times the most efficient columns will result when the column inner diameter is between 1.5 and 3 prm. A column of 2 Mrm diameter and 2 meter length should be capable of producing a million theoretical plates for an analyte with a capacity factor of 10 (strongly retained) and a retention time of 100 minutes.