Using state-of-the-art instrumentation and building upon our theoretical insights and modeling capabilities, we aim at making detailed analyses of the efficiency and flow resistance of chromatographic columns of any sort or type (packed beds, monolithic columns, micromachined columns). Apart from mastering the conventional Van Deemter and flow resistance analysis, the specialties of the group include B-term modeling (overall effect as well as stationary-phase diffusion) and mobile phase mass transfer rates (Sherwood-number). In 2007, the group developed a technique (Total Pore Blocking) enabling to make accurate measurements of the volumetric fraction of the flow-through pores, as well as to eliminate the hcm- and the hcs-contribution.
Selected reading
Cabooter, D, Lynen, F., Sandra, P. and Desmet. G.; Total pore blocking as an alternative method for the on-column determination of the external porosity of packed and monolithic reversed-phase columns; 2007; Journal of Chromatography A; 1157; 131-141
Desmet, G. and Broeckhoven, K.; Equivalence of the different Cm- and Cs-term expressions appearing in literature and a geometrical model uniting them; 2008; Analyical Chemistry; 80(21); 8076-8088
Vaast, A., Broeckhoven, K., Dolman, S., Desmet, G., Eeltink, S.; Comparison of the gradient kinetic performance of silica monolithic capillary columns packed with 3 µm porous and 2.7 µm fused-core silica particles; 2012; Journal of Chromatography A; 1228; 270
Liekens, A., Denayer, J., Desmet, G.; Experimental Investigation of the difference in B-term dominated band broadening between fully porous-shell particles for liquid chromatography using the Effective Medium Theory; 2011; Journal of Chromatography A; 1218; 4406-4416
Cabooter, D., Billen, J., Terryn, H., Lynen, F., Sandra, P. and Desmet, G.; Detailed characterisation of the flow resistance of commercial sub- 2 µm reversed- phase columns; 2008; Journal of Chromatography A; 1178; 108–117
Broeckhoven, K., Cabooter, D., Lynen, F., Sandra, P., Desmet, G.; Errors Involved in the Existing B-term Expressions for the Longitudinal Diffusion in Fully Porous Chromatographic Media. Part II: Experimental data in Packed Columns and Surface Diffusion Measurements; 2008; Journal of Chromatography A; 1188; 189-198