Parallel array of independent thermostats for column separations

A thermostat array comprising:

• multiple capillary columns or multiple channels in a microfabricated device, wherein said multiple columns or said multiple channels are associated in an array;
• a heat conductive material surrounding each individual said column or channel, wherein each individual said column or channel is thermally insulated from every other individual said column or channel;
• one or more independently controlled heating or cooling elements positioned adjacent to individual said columns or channels, within said heat conductive material, wherein each heating or cooling element is connected to a source of heating or cooling;
• and
• one or more independently controlled temperature sensing elements positioned adjacent to individual said columns or channels, within said heat conductive material, wherein each temperature sensing element is connected to a temperature controller and
• wherein two or more of said multiple columns or channels are heated or cooled by a single heating or cooling element and multiple clusters of such columns or channels heated or cooled by a single heating or cooling element are associated in said thermostat array and wherein said columns or channels heated or cooled by a single heating or cooling element within a cluster of said columns or channels can be maintained at the same temperature and different clusters within said array are independently controllable.

A temperature controlled capillary column for column separations comprising:

• a capillary column;
• a capillary body support surrounding said capillary column;
• a thermally conductive heater body surrounding said capillary body support;
• heat insulation material surrounding said thermally conductive heater body;
• one or more heating or cooling elements positioned adjacent to or within said thermally conductive heater body, wherein each heating or cooling element is connected to a source of heating or cooling;
• and
• one or more temperature sensing elements positioned adjacent to or within said thermally conductive heater body, wherein each temperature sensing element is connected to a temperature controller.