Liquid chromatography techniques are disclosed. Specifically, the liquid chromatography technique includes providing a liquid chromatography system having a coated metallic fluid-contacting element, and transporting a fluid to contact the coated metallic fluid-contacting element. Conditions for the transporting of the fluid are selected from the group consisting of the temperature of the fluid being greater than 150 C., pressure urging the fluid being greater than 60 MPa, the fluid having a protein-containing analyte incompatible with one or both of titanium and polyether ether ketone, the fluid having a chelating agent incompatible with the one or both of the titanium or the polyether ether ketone, and combinations thereof.

A device for processing samples is disclosed. Interior surfaces of the device, which come in contact with fluids, define wetted surfaces. A portion of the wetted surfaces are coated with an alkylsilyl coating having the Formula I: ##STR00001##
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are each independently selected from (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, N((C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, OH, OR.sup.A, and halo. R.sup.A represents a point of attachment to the interior surfaces of the fluidic system. At least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is OR.sup.A. X is (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)alkyl, O[(CH.sub.2).sub.2O].sub.1-20, (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[NH(CO)NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)].sub.1-20, or (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[alkylphenyl(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl].sub.1-20-.

A microfluidic chromatography column comprising a stationary phase substrate and a method for functionalizing the chromatography column. The stationary phase substrate has a liquid channel defined by channel walls, and the channel has an inlet and an outlet. There are pillars positioned in the channel on the substrate. The stationary phase substrate of the chromatography column can comprise silicon oxide. At least a portion of the surface of the stationary phase substrate can be attached to a linker, and the linker is attached to a polymer.

A device for processing samples is disclosed. Interior surfaces of the device, which come in contact with fluids, define wetted surfaces. A portion of the wetted surfaces are coated with an alkylsilyl coating having the Formula I.

##STR00001##

R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are each independently selected from (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, N((C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, OH, OR.sup.A, and halo. R.sup.A represents a point of attachment to the interior surfaces of the fluidic system. At least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is OR.sup.A. X is (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)alkyl, O[(CH.sub.2).sub.2O].sub.1-20, (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[NH(CO)NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)].sub.1-20, or (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[alkylphenyl(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl].sub.1-20-.

A device for separating analytes is disclosed. The device has a sample injector, sample injection needle, sample reservoir container in communication with the sample injector, chromatography column downstream of the sample injector, and fluid conduits connecting the sample injector and the column. The interior surfaces of the fluid conduits, sample injector, sample reservoir container, and column form a flow path having wetted surfaces. A portion of the wetted surfaces of the flow path are coated with an alkylsilyl coating that is inert to at least one of the analytes. The alkylsilyl coating has the Formula I:

##STR00001##

R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are each independently selected from (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, N((C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, OH, OR.sup.A, and halo. R.sup.A represents a point of attachment to the interior surfaces of the fluidic system. At least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is OR.sup.A. X is (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)alkyl, O[(CH.sub.2).sub.2O].sub.1-20-, (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[NH(CO)NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)].sub.1-20, or (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[alkylphenyl(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl].sub.1-20-.