Dispensing needle for a fraction collector

A dispensing needle for a fraction collector, comprising:

• a conduit having a first fluid channel having a first cross-sectional area and a dispensing end;
• a needle tip disposed at the dispensing end of the conduit and having an exterior surface, an interior wall defining a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel, and an endface disposed at a dispensing end of the second fluid channel, the second fluid channel having a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area, wherein a flow rate of a liquid through the second fluid channel is greater than a flow rate of the liquid through the first fluid channel;
• and
• a hydrophobic coating of a hydrocarbon material covalently bonded to the endface of the needle tip, to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the needle tip adjacent to the endface and to at least a portion of the interior wall adjacent to the endface, wherein the hydrophobic coating of the hydrocarbon material operates to reduce a droplet volume of the liquid dispensed from the endface.