Gas chromatography of the future: columns whose time has come

Currently a new technology for the manufacture of chromatographic columns is being developed on the basis of methods designed to create microelectromechanical systems. This technology allows reducing the column size and also opens up prospects for developing a unique process for manufacturing columns without human intervention. The review presents data on the use of this technology for manufacture of gas chromatography capillary columns. The methods for preparation of capillaries and the influence of their shape and configuration on the chromatographic properties of the columns are considered. The methods for stationary phase introduction into capillaries, both traditional for capillary gas chromatography and borrowed from the semiconductor and microelectromechanical technologies are discussed. The unique properties of semi-packed columns obtained using microelectromechanical techniques are considered. The possible applications of such columns and the ways of their further development are discussed.The bibliography includes 179 references.