Annular column liquid chromatography and other enhancements in instrumentation and data analysis for conventional and microbore High Performance Liquid Chromatography

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is one of the most important analytical chemistry techniques in the world today. However the technique uses sophisticated instrumentation that is usually quite labor intensive and not readily amenable to continuous process and environmental monitoring. The aim of the following work was to solve some of the difficulties associated with HPLC and its application toward process and environmental monitoring. Chapter 1 introduces the theory of HPLC and the associated challenges and issues. Chapter 2 demonstrates the use of the ratio of two chromatograms to resolve and quantify overlapped chromatography peaks, with the benefit of reducing the overall analysis time. Chapter 3 explains how a simple gradient elution scheme called the Transient Mobile Phase Gradient coupled with microbore liquid chromatography, on-column sample pre-concentration and dual wavelength absorbance detection using a position sensitive detector makes a useful analyzer for process and environmental monitoring. Finally Chapter 4 describes a unique fiber optic device that can act as an all-in-one HPLC column, sample pre-concentrator and detector. This fiber optic based annular column device allows for analytes of interest to partition into the stationary phase fiber optic cladding and be detected by mode-filtered light detection. This novel separation and sensing device has benefits of chemical selectivity and low pressure analyses which can reduce column clogging often associated with packed column HPLC.