Visualisation of axial temperature gradients and heat transfer process of different solvent compositions in ultra high performance liquid chromatography using thermography

Abstract

Thermal imaging was used to visualise axial temperature gradients in chromatography columns running solvents of water, methanol and acetonitrile at various compositions. The non-monotonic relationship between solvent composition and viscosity enabled the testing of solvent conditions with equivalent viscosities, but with different percentages of water. It was observed that at equivalent power the increase in water composition leads to an increase in the magnitude of the axial temperature gradients (ΔTA). Observing the change in temperature at defined points (ΔTP) with increasing power indicates that the relationship between ΔTP and power is not linear but deviates at higher power. The degree of this deviation depends on what point along the column axis is observed as well what solvent composition is used. Being able to monitor the entire length of the column using thermography also allowed for the observation of different rates of heat transfer through to the bulky stainless steel end fittings from solvent to solvent. Revealing that water is able to transfer heat to the stainless steel surface in such a way that the temperature profile of transition point between columns to end fitting is more gradual compared to when methanol or acetonitrile is used. This evidence plus video data collected indicates that at constant flow rate an equilibrium between heat generated and heat dissipated through the stainless steel is formed, which differs from solvent to solvent. Moreover any disruption to this equilibrium, i.e. a change in flow rate will momentarily change the shape of the temperature profile.