Thermal modulation interface between supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography

A thermal modulator that can act as an interface between supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography is developed and tested. The modulator is made of a short segment of a fused silica capillary column, coated on the outside with electrically conductive paint so that it can be heated rapidly by a pulse of electric current. An equivalent of an injection is made internally within a flowing stream containing the sample by alternately heating and cooling the modulator, rather than by introduction through an injection port or a valve.