Tuning preparation conditions towards optimized separation performance of thermally polymerized organo-silica monolithic columns in capillary liquid chromatography.Tuning of preparation conditions, such as variations in the amount of a porogen, concentration of an aqueous acid catalyst, and adjustment in polymerization temperature and time, towards optimized chromatographic performance of thermally polymerized monolithic capillaries prepared from 3-(methacryloyloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane has been carried out.  Results describing hydrophobicity, steric selectivity, and extent of hydrogen bonding enabled comparison of performance of hybrid monolithic columns prepared under thermal (TSG) and photopolymerized (PSG) conditions.  Thermally polymerized monoliths produced surfaces, which were slightly more hydrophobic (a methylene selectivity of 1.28±0.002 TSG vs 1.20±0.002 PSG), with reduced number of residual silanols (a caffeine/phenol selectivity of 0.13±0.001 TSG vs 0.17±0.003 PSG).  The batch-to-batch repeatability was better using thermal initiation compared to monolithic columns prepared under photopolymerized conditions. 
THERM