Abstract: Method for loading a column with a packing material by inserting one end of a column to be packed into a slurry of a packing material in a volatile solvent, allowing said slurry to be drawn into said end of said column by capillary action, withdrawing said end from said slurry, and removing said volatile solvent from the slurry that has been drawn into said end of said column, through the same end of the column at which the slurry entered, and sinteriing.

Abstract: Method for loading a column with a packing material by inserting one end of a column to be packed into a slurry of a packing material in a volatile solvent, allowing said slurry to be drawn into said end of said column by capillary action, withdrawing said end from said slurry, and removing said volatile solvent from the slurry that has been drawn into said end of said column, through the same end of the column at which the slurry entered, and sinteriing.

Abstract: An ultra-low flow rate electrospray ionization (ESI) source provides flow rates in the range of 1.0 nL/min or less. The source is comprised of a needle which is fabricated by laser-heated pulling of fused-silica tubing, followed by chemical etching and surface metallization. The pulling results in formation of a slowly tapering capillary within the needle which tapers to a tip having a very small inner diameter. The etching process sharpens the outer wall of the needle to a very sharp tip, and the combination of these parameters results in the ultra-low flow rate capability. After a metal electrical contact is formed on the exterior wall of the needle, an electrically insulating overcoating is preferably deposited thereon which locks the contact in place, thereby greatly increasing needle life, and also restricting the electrical contact point to the very tip of the needle.