Distorted solvent peaks in capillary GC: A symptom of porous column surfaces

Many uncoated precolumns, and to a lesser extent separation columns, strongly retain some of the solvent. Retarded release of such solvent elevates the baseline after the solvent peak and causes ugly “humps” of eluted solvent as the temperature is increased. The problem is probably a result of retention by a porous surface, e.g. surfaces obtained by leaching or hydrothermal treatment of capillaries prior to silylation. It is assumed that other problems with capillary columns can be explained by the same mechanism, including: a kind of adsorption including apolar compounds, and “ghost” peaks as well as “memory” effects. Fused silica capillaries are superior to glass, but even for these special procedures are required in order to achieve thorough deactivation of the internal surface without introducing porosity.