In this paper, a new type of high performance packed column, the submicroparticle packed column (SPPC), has been proposed. SPPC has the advantages of a microparticle packed column, high efficiency and high analytical speed, and a classical packed column, high column capacity, low cost, and easy operation. In some respects, its properties are similar to that of a capillary, which can analyze high boiling point components or wide boiling range samples at a relatively low column temperature. The height equivalent to an effective plate can be as low as 0.155 mm, and the plate number per second is 95. Moreover, the extra-column effect of the chromatographic system and its diminutiveness and the influences on column efficiency (such as average carrier,aas velocity, makeup gas flow, and temperature) are also discussed in detail SPPC is suitable for fast and trace analysis in many fields. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.