The Selection and Management of Packed Column Tube

Normally, the materials used for making the packed column tube are stainless steel tube, copper tube, aluminum tube, nickel-plated brass tube, glass tube, polytetrafluoroethylene tube, etc. As copper tubes and aluminum tubes have strong catalytic activity and are easy to deform, they have been less commonly used now.

The inner diameter of the packed column which is for analysis is ordinarily 2 to 4 mm, while that for sample preparation is 5 to 10 mm. The shape of the column could be spiral or U-shaped, and you can get higher column efficiency by using the latter.

The material selection of the packed column should be decided by the sample’s character and the experiment condition. If the sample is labile or corrosive, you should use a glass tube or polytetrafluoroethylene tube. The advantages of the glass tube are good chemical inertness, high column efficiency, and ease of observation. But the disadvantage is frangibility.

On the other hand, the advantage of the polytetrafluoroethylene tube is corrosion resistance, while the disadvantage does not bear high temperatures and pressure. Currently, the stainless steel tube is mostly used for the packed column. The advantages of stainless steel tubes are unbreakable, good heat transfer properties, and long service life. The disadvantages are activated and hard to clean.