Method for packing capillary columns with particulate materials

A method for loading a capillary channel with a packing material to form a capillary column, which comprises placing a first frit on a first capillary channel, said first capillary channel having a proximal end and a distal end and said first frit being placed on the distal end;

• forcing a slurry of a solid packing material in a liquid into the proximal end of said first channel so that the slurry passes from the proximal end to the distal end at which end the liquid, but not the solid packing material, passes through said first frit and out of said first capillary channel, to form a first bed of packing material within said first capillary channel and adjacent to said first frit;
• thereby forming a pre-pack column, then removing said first frit and joining the distal end of said pre-pack column to the proximal end of an empty second capillary channel, said second capillary channel having a proximal end and a distal end, and attaching a second frit to the distal end of said second channel, said second frit being the same as or different than said first frit, then forcing a liquid into the proximal end of said pre-pack column, so that the liquid passes through the pre-pack column, mobilizing the packing in said first bed and carrying said packing into said second capillary channel and to the distal end thereof, where the liquid, but not said packing material, passes through said second frit and out of said second channel and said packing forms a second bed adjacent to said second frit to form a packed capillary column;
• then separating said packed capillary column from said pre-pack column.