Prediction of the influence of the heat generated by viscous friction on the efficiency of chromatography columns

The combination of the heat balance in a chromatographic column percolated by a stream of mobile phase and of the model of band migration under linear conditions along such a column permits the calculation of the axial and radial temperature distributions in the column, of the elution band profiles, and of the column efficiency under different sets of experimental conditions. The calculated results are always consistent with the experimental results published by different groups and often in good quantitative agreement. Minor discrepancies arise from difficulties in deriving precise estimates of the heat transfers from the column due to the massive endfittings of the column and to uncontrolled heat transfer from the column tube to ambient air. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.