Monte-carlo simulation of gas chromatographic separation for the prediction of retention times and peak half widths

Summary A new method for prediction of gas chromatographic retention times and peak half widths is based on the renewal theory. The only requirements are the heats of vaporization of the compounds to be separated and one calibration measurement. With this data, retention times and peak half widths can be predicted for isothermal as well as temperature-programmed gas chromatography. For the separation of non-polar substances on non-polar stationary phases the prediction error for retention times is approx. 1–2%. First simulations of polar molecules and polar stationary phases indicate that this method is also applicable in these cases but some extension will be required.