It is interesting to note that 20 years later there is still no clear definition of nano-LC. Due to a relatively large size of the columns used in nano-HPLC (10-140 μm), the method does not fall within the realm of the conventional definition of nanotechnology - “the control of matter on a scale smaller than 1 micrometre”.

However, most researches subscribe to the view expressed in the article “Instrumental Requirements for Nanoscale Liquid Chromatography” (DOI: 10.1021/ac9508964). The authors suggested the definition based on the flow rate range rather than the inner diameter of the tubing or its material. They proposed that the liquid chromatography method that uses packed microcolumns with 10-150 μm ID and flow rates of 10-1000 nL/min to be classified as nano-LC.

Names and Definitions for HPLC Techniques

Desciption	ID	Flow Rate
Nano HPLC	10-150 μm	10-1000 nL/min
Capillary HPLC	150-500 μm	1-10 μL/min
Micro HPLC	0.5-1.5 mm	10-100 μL/min
Mirobore HPLC	1.5-3.2 mm	100-500 μL/min
Conventional HPLC	3.2-4.6 mm	0.5-2.0 mL/min
Preparative HPLC	>10 mm	> 20 mL/min

Tags: flow_rates lab-on-a-chip Liquid Chromatography liquid_chromatography nano nanoscale nanotechnology

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