Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 March 2012
Hierarchically porous silica monoliths were introduced into liquid phase chromatography at the beginning of the last decade. The high surface area, high void volume and bicontinuous nature of the porosity of the materials are significant advantages over existing chromatographic supports and have resulted in rapid acceptance of these materials into the chromatography market.
We report here on the synthesis of 3-D porous silver, cobalt oxide and zinc oxide monoliths, their materials characterization, fabrication as liquid chromatographic columns and initial chromatographic characterization. The, as prepared, columns gave very low back pressure, consistent with the bicontinuous nature of the columns. Cobalt oxide and zinc oxide both demonstrated retention of a number of nitrogen heterocycles, providing the basis for molecular separation.