Evaporation of the liquid stationary phase in gas chromatography

Summary The theory of the evaporation of the liquid stationary phase is elaborated and experimentally verified. On the basis of this theory the role played by the losses in the amount of liquid phase present is quantitatively determined. General techniques are examined which minimize the losses; these techniques are based on saturating the incoming carrier gas with liquid phase vapours and raising the pressure of the carrier gas in the column, e.g. by connecting a capillary to the column outlet in order to offer resistance to the gas flow. The application of these techniques ensures stable performance of the gas chromatographic columns using a volatile liquid phase.