Abstract: Method for loading a capillary channel with a packing material to form a capillary column which comprises placing a first frit on a first capillary channel, forcing a slurry of a solid packing material in a liquid through said first channel so that the liquid, but not the solid packing material, passes through the frit and out of the capillary channel, to form a first bed of packing material within said first capillary channel and adjacent to the frit; thereby forming a pre-pack column, then removing the frit and joining the pre-pack column to an empty second capillary channel and attaching a second frit to the end of said second channel, then forcing a liquid into the end of pre-pack column, so that the liquid passes through the pre-pack column, mobilizing the packing therein and carrying it into the second capillary channel, where the liquid, but not the packing material, passes through the frit and out of said second channel, whereby said packing forms a packed bed in the second column; then separating the