Highly porous solid-phase microextraction fiber coating based on poly(ethylene glycol)-modified ormosils synthesized by sol-gel technology

The preparation and characteristics of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers coated with Carbowax 20M ormosil (organically modified silica) are described here. Raw fused silica fibers were coated with Carbowax 20M-modified silica using sol-gel process. Scanning electron micrographs of fibers revealed a highly porous, sponge-like coating with an average thickness of (8 +/- 1) microm. The sol-gel Carbowax fibers were compared to commercial fibers coated with 100 microm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 65 microm Carbowax-divinylbenzene (DVB). Shorter equilibrium times were possible with the sol-gel Carbowax fiber: for headspace extraction of the test analytes, they ranged from less than 3 min for benzene to 15 min for o-xylene. Extraction efficiencies of the sol-gel Carbowax fiber were superior to those of conventional fibers: for o-xylene, the extracted masses were 230 and 540% of that obtained with 100 microm PDMS and 65 microm Carbowax-DVB fibers, respectively.     

Gas chromatographic retention indices for C6 alkanols on OV-101 and Carbowax 20M capillary columns

Summary Gas chromatographic retention indices for 16 C₆ alkanols measured on capillary columns coated with OV-101 methylsilicone and Carbowax 20M propylethyleneglycol liquid phases at 80° and 90°C were determined. The respective standard deviation values were 0.5 and 0.8 i.u. The correlation between the retention indices measured on non-polar and polar stationary phases and the boiling points of the alkanols was studied.     

Contribution of adsorption to retention data in glass capillary gas chromatography part. I. Polar stationary phases

Summary The influence of the film thickness of Carbowax 20M coated onto glass surfaces (series of columns with different mode of surface treatment) upon the retention indices of solutes which exhibit tendency to hydrogen bonding has been investigated. Limiting values of Kovats indices, I, are calculated for all the columns examined.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Permethylated β-cyclodextrin in liquid poly(oxyethylene) as a stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography

This paper reports the study of poly(oxyethylene) as a solvent for heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (PM-β-CD) and the potential of these mixtures for constructing enantioselective gas chromatography columns. Enantioseparations of volatile racemic mixtures using capillaries coated with 10–50% PM-β-CD diluted in Carbowax 20M were evaluated. The influence of the polymer type on retention, separation and reproducibility over a period of time is critically discussed. The poly(oxyethylene)-based columns were also compared to columns prepared by dilution of PM-β-CD in two polysiloxanes, SE-30 and SE-54, at several temperatures. Finally, we evaluated a new stationary phase prepared by crosslinking the chiral selector to the poly(oxyethylene) matrix.     

Use of carbowax 20M glass capillary columns below their lower temperature limit

The optimal separation properties of Carbowax 20M as a stationary phase in 300-m glass capillary columns at temeperatures below its lower temperature limit (60°) in terms of the selectivity, efficiency and speed of the gas chromatographic analysis of isomeric C₁₀---₁₃n-alkenes were investigated.In the separation of isomeric n-alkenes two possible states of the Carbowax stationary phase below 60° were used (solid state and intermediate liquid state), and the dependence of the retention of the isomers on temperature was studied. The region of the hysteresis portion of the I^CW = f(T)diagram permits the continuous setting of column selectivity. The efficiency of the column at temperatures below the lower temperature limit of Carbowax 20M depends on the spatial cis-trans configuration of n-alkenes and, in the solid state, for cis-isomers is comparable to the high efficiency of this column at higher temperatures (115°). Utilization of Carbowax 20M in the solid state made it possible to achieve faster and more complete separations of the eleven possible positional and spatial isomers of n-tridecenes in comparison with previous methods.     

Determination of volatiles in spirits using combined stationary phases in capillary GC

Summary The analysis of spirits with a single stationary phase is still an unsolved problem; the two amyl alcohols, ethyl acetate and acetal are not separated on a polar column, methanol and acetaldehyde coelute from an apolar column. Trials with coupled columns of different polarities showed that optimum results were obtained with a 40 m capillary column, comprising 6 m of Carbowax 20 M, 12 m of 1:1 Carbowax 20M:OV1 mixture and 30 m of PS 264. Best results were achieved when a 1 m retention gap was used, injecting a small amount of sample and using a 7 cm syringe needle.     

Glass-capillary gas chromatography of chlorobenzenes on SE-30 and Carbowax 20M columns. Simultaneous determination of chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols

Summary Gas chromatography of benzene and all chlorobenzenes has been studied on SE-30 and Carbowax 20M glasscapillary columns under various operating conditions. The benzene isomers are eluted on both columns according to their boiling points. Separation of all components in a mixture is achieved on Carbowax 20M, whereas on SE-30 the peaks of closely related isomers overlapped. Also one partial overlapping is observed on a non-polar phase. The relative retention times for compounds are given and the retention order is discussed. The retention behaviour of chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols is compared. By using an SE-30 quartz-capillary column a mixture of 33 individual components gives 29 resolved peaks the analysis time being less than 26 minutes. A polar column proved to be unsuitable for the separation of polychlorophenols.     

Stimultaneous quantitative analysis using dual capillary columns of different polarities

Complex organic mixtures, such as coal liquefaction and oil shale products and by-products, are comprised of hundreds or thousands of individual components. State-of-the-art high resolution gas chromatography does not always provide sufficient resolution to allow accurate quantitation or identification of many compounds of interest. The concept of dual capillary column chromatography combines the different resolving characteristics of two capillary columns coated with different stationary phases into a single chromatographic run. In this approach, both columns are connected to the same injection port. Analysis of complex mixtures in this fashion can confirm the identification and quantitation of components on two columns of different polarity with little increased analysis time, can provide a means of obtaining quantitative data for individual components which are known to coelute on any one column, and can alert one to unknown coelution problems that would be undetected by gas chromatographic analysis on a single capillary column. Simultaneous dual column analysis was applied to three samples, the neutral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fraction of a Solvent Refined Coal-II (SRC-II) heavy distillate, the nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compound (N-PAC) fraction of an SRC-II heavy distillate, and the basic fraction from a shale oil process water. Fused silica capillary columns coated with SE-54 and Durawax 3 were used for the analyses of the heavy distillate, while SE-54 an Carbowax 20M capillary columns were used for the analysis of the process water.     

Modified GC-phases for the enantiomeric separation of optically active compounds: Crosslinking experiments with polymeric chiral compounds

Crosslinking experiments for immobilization of the well-known chiral stationary phases XE 60-L -valine-(S)- and XE 60-L -valine-(R)-α-phenylethylamide within capillary columns have been successfully carried out. Crosslinking was also obtained with mixtures of the chiral compound acrylyl-L -valine-(S)-α-phenylethylamide and the polyethylene glycol Carbowax 20M. Immobilization of 75% to 90% was achieved by crosslinking the polymeric chiral phases, but sometimes up to 100% of these phases remained within the columns after the usual subsequent solvent treatment. The crosslinking of Carbowax 20M with acrylyl-L -valine-(S)-α-phenylethylamide led to a chiral polymer of a polarity different from that of the common siloxane type chiral phases.     

Glass capillary gas chromatography of chlorinated methyl acetates,propanoates and butanoates on Carbowax 20M and SE-30 columns

Summary The gas chromatography of all chlorinated methyl acetates, methyl propanoates and methyl mono- and dichlorobutanoates has been studied on Carbowax 20M and SE-30 glass capillary columns under various running conditions. The order of elution on a non-polar column was largely determined by the boiling point of esters, whereas on a polar column it was much influenced by the structure of compounds. Complete separation of the combined mixture of all 27 compounds could not be achieved, however, methyl 3,3-dichlorobutanoate was the only ester overlapped on both columns in spite of the various column temperatures used. The best separation of the mixture was on Carbowax 20M with a temperature program from 50°C at 8°C/min, isothermal running conditions leading either to poor separation of volatile components or long analysis time and broad peaks of higher chlorinated esters. The relative retention times for compounds at the various column temperatures are given and the retention order on a polar and on a non-polar column discussed.     

Influence of different deactivation methods on the sorption properties of diatomaceous supports for GLC

Summary Different types of diatomaceous supports, (pink and white) were deactivated in different ways: HCl gas treatment at high temperature, silanization and polymer coating with Carbowax 20 M. The adsorption effects of those supports when not coated with stationary phase were tested with samples of different polarity. The Carbowax modification of supports gives a surface of very low activity, irrespective of whether the pink or the cleaner white diatomite type was the initial material. The polymer coating behaves like a thin-layer of stationary phase, of considerably less polarity than the original Carbowax, and gives rise to a partition-like retention. The silanized supports are of moderate activity, the white type being less active than the pink one. This is explained by the higher content of aprotonic active sites in the latter, which cannot be blocked by silanization.     

Use of carbowax 20M coated porapak Q for the gas chromatographic analysis of the products obtained by the ammoxidation of ethylene oxide

Summary GC separation of pure ethanolamines as well as mixtures with ethylene glycols, obtained from a real technological process is achived using Porapak Q coated with 15% Carbowax 20M. Symmetrical peaks, satisfactory resolution, and reasonable analysis times are obtained. The proposed method is suitable for a convenient, correct and express routine analysis.     

Flexible soft glass capillary columns vs. flexible fused silica capillary columns for gas chromatography-a critique

The gas chromatographic use of flexible thin walled soft glass capillary columns coated with non-polar stationary phases is compared to similar columns made of fused silica glass. With non-polar soft glass columns, the use of surface roughening viagaseous HCI followed by a Carbowax 20 M pretreatment gave adsorptive phenomena, and thermal instability. With very polar soft glass columns where a variety of cyanopropyl silicone phases were coated directly onto the NaCI crystal matrix, adsorptive effects were again prominent and frequent break-down in film stability with time, was also observed. These undesirable effects were due to the presence of metal oxides in the soft glass. Attempts to remove these materials from the thin walled soft glass surface by means of acid leaching produced significant brittleness. This deleterious result was further increased by attempts at high temperature silylation or polysiloxane deactivation. In sharp contrast, the fused silica surface was essentially free of metal oxides and the surface silanol groups are easily neutralized by silylation or polysiloxane deactivation techniques. No brittleness was observed following these procedures. An increasing series of high molecular weight, viscous, polymeric vinyl containing non-polar and highly polar stationary phases have been produced which readily wet the surface of the fused silica and are easily crosslinked in the presence of free radical generators. These columns are essentially free of all the problems noted with flexible thin walled soft glass. When all of the parameters involved in the fabrication of a glass capillary column are assessed, it appears at this time, that the flexible fused silica glass column with cross linked phases approaches the “ideal” capillary column.     

Gas chromatographic study of acetyl derivates of chlorinated guaiacols

Summary The gas chromatography of acetyl derivatives of guaiacol and all chlorinated guaiacols has been studied on SE-30, OV-351 and Carbowax 20M capillary columns. The retention order and relative retention times under isotermal and temperature-programmed conditions are discussed. Different retention times for all mono- and dichloro compounds have been observed on the SE-30 column. However, all trichloroguaiacol isomers were separated only on polar columns. The best overall temperature-programmed separations have been achieved on an SE-30 capillary column.     

Selective and non-selective sampling from precolumn separations—with emphasis on the sampling of aqueous solutions

Various methods of gas chromatographic analysis at high resolution and low detection limits in aqueous solutions are described with regard to sampling techniques, column technology, and the application of coupled pre-columns, also including multidimensional methods. Immobilized polyethylene glycol (Carbowax 20 M) columns have also been produced and used successfully.     

Glass capillary gas chromatography of highly polar solutes like diols,acids and amines deactivation of fused silica and pretreated alkali glass support surfaces

Summary The method of support surface deactivation by PSD (alkylpolysiloxane degradation) at temperature between 300 and 450°C previously described was used to deactivate both fused silica and alkali glass surfaces of capillary columns. The latter surfaces had to be pretreated before deactivation with aqueous HCl leaching or by the dealkalisation method using flowing HCl gas at 450°C and subsequent rinsing with water for alkali removal. Excellent alkylpolysiloxane columns with regard to tailing and irreversible adsorption of highly polar solutes have been obtained on both fused silica and the pretreated alkali glass. Fused silica does not require pretreatment before deactivation by the PSD-method, however. Good polyethyleneglycol (Carbowax 20 M) columns can also be obtained by coating the two types of surfaces when no deactivation is necessary. Deactivation by the PSD method cannot be applied in this case because polar stationary liquids do not adhere to alkylpolysiloxane deactivated surfaces. Sample capacity problems arising when separating highly polar solutes with non-polar stationary phases have also been investigated.     

Capillary supercritical fluid chromatography of aliphatic amines. Studies on the selectivity and symmetry with three different columns using carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide as mobile phase

The supercritical fluid chromatography of intact aliphatic amines with different columns is described. One group of amines was based on N,N-dimethyl-n-octylamine and related primary and secondary amines, and the other on the amino alcohol metoprolol and several of its analogues. Columns with three different phases were investigated, one non-polar coated with 5% phenyl methyl polysiloxane and two more polar with 25% cyanopropyl methylphenyl polysiloxane and Carbowax 20M. Generally, equal molar amounts were injected under splitless conditions and the peak symmetry was recorded. The system with the non-polar silicone phase was more inert, followed by the wax-phase column. The cyanopropyl column gave severe peak tailing although it was loaded with five times more of the amines than the other columns. The selectivity was investigated and was found higher with the two polar columns. Both showed a marked increase in the retention of amines with free hydrogens. With nitrous oxide the selectivity was almost the same as that with carbon dioxide as mobile phase. The nature of the flame ionization detector changed, however, giving a negative baseline drift on pressure programming. An interesting conclusion is that the amines are chromatographed as such with carbon dioxide as the mobile phase.     

Wide-bore capillary column for the direct analysis of ethanolamines and ethylene glycols

Summary The GC separation of a mixture of three ethanolamines and four ethylene glycols without any preliminary derivatization, on a wide-bore capillary column coated with Carbowax 20M is described. These high-boiling and polar compounds elute giving simmetrical peaks and show good resolution. The analysis is completed in less than 14 minutes.     

Contribution of adsorption to rentension data in capillary gas chromatography part II. Non-polar stationary phases

Summary The influence of adsorption on the dependence of retention data upon film thickness of the non-polar stationary phases OV-101 and Apiezon L coated on glass (series of capillary columns with non-deactivated and Carbowax 20 M deactivated surface) and fused silica has been studied. Limiting values of Kovats indices, I, of solutes which exhibit tendency to hydrogen bonding are calculated for each series of columns.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

A study of chromatographic properties of liquid crystalline polyacrylates using WCOT columns in gas chromatography

Liquid crystalline polyacrylates (LCPAs) are evaluated as stationary phases for capillary gas chromatography (CGC). Aromatic hydrocarbons as well as polar isomeric compounds are used as test solutes to compare the polarity of the LCPAs with a conventional polysiloxane column and a Carbowax 20M column. The relative polarity of the columns with respect to change in the lateral and terminal substituents is also discussed. Lateral substitution, polarity of the terminal group, together with the solute size, affect the LCPA selectivity.