LED-Based UV Absorption Detector with Low Detection Limits for Capillary Liquid Chromatography

A 260 nm deep UV LED-based absorption detector with low detection limits was developed and integrated with a small nanoflow pumping system. The detector is small in size (5.2 x 3.0 cm) and weighs only 85 g (without electronics). This detector was specifically designed and optimized for on-column detection to minimize extra-column band broadening. No optical reference was included due to the low drift in the signal. Two ball lenses, one of which was integrated with the LED, were used to increase light throughput through the capillary column. Stray light was minimized by the use of a band-pass filter and an adjustable slit. Signals down to the parts per billion level (nanomolar) were easily detected with a short-term noise level of 4.4 mu AU, confirming a low limit of detection and low noise. The detection limit for adenosine-5'-monophosphate was 230 times lower than any previously reported values. Good linearities (3 orders of magnitude) were obtained using sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate, adenosine-5'-monophosphate, dl-tryptophan, and phenol. The LC system was demonstrated by performing isocratic separation of phenolic compounds using a monolithic capillary column (16.5 cm x 150 mu m i.d.) synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate.