High‐throughput gas chromatography for volatile compounds analysis by fast temperature programming and adsorption chromatography

The synergy of combining fast temperature programming capability and adsorption chromatography using fused silica based porous layer open tubular columns to achieve high throughput chromatography for the separation of volatile compounds is presented. A gas chromatograph with built‐in fast temperature programming capability and having a fast cool down rate was used as a platform. When these performance features were combined with the high degree of selectivity and strong retention characteristic of porous layer open tubular column technology, volatile compounds such as light hydrocarbons of up to C₇, primary alcohols, and mercaptans can be well separated and analyzed in a matter of minutes. This analytical approach substantially improves sample throughput by at least a factor of ten times when compared to published methodologies. In addition, the use of porous layer open tubular columns advantageously eliminates the need for costly and time‐consuming cryogenic gas chromatography required for the separation of highly volatile compounds by partition chromatography with wall coated open tubular column technology. Relative standard deviations of retention time for model compounds such as alkanes from methane to hexane were found to be less than 0.3% (n = 10) and less than 0.5% for area counts for the compounds tested at two levels of concentration by manual injection, namely, 10 and 1000 ppm v/v (n = 10). Difficult separations were accomplished in one single analysis in less than 2 min such as the characterization of 17 components in cracked gas containing alkanes, alkenes, dienes, branched hydrocarbons, and cyclic hydrocarbons.     

Analysis of Fischer-Tropsch by-product waters by gas chromatography

This paper describes a quantitative technique for the determination of organic constituents in Fischer-Tropsch by-product waters. Temperature-programmed gas chromatography on derivatized bonded polar capillary columns provides the required separation that permits reliable quantitation of individual compounds. A preliminary combined gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric survey to identify the components present in Fischer-Tropsch by-product waters is presented. The elution order of 58 identified components is tabulated. Components identified in a typical Fischer-Tropsch by-product water include C₁–C₉ linear and branched alcohols, C₃? C₈ ketones, C₂? C₆ carboxylic acids, and C₂? C₄ linear aldehydes.     

Chromatographic behavior of small organic compounds in low‐temperature high‐performance liquid chromatography using liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase

Low‐temperature high‐performance liquid chromatography, in which a loop injector, column, and detection cell were refrigerated at –35ºC, using liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase was developed. Small organic compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, alkylbenzenes, and quinones) were separated by low‐temperature high‐performance liquid chromatography at temperatures from –35 to –5ºC. The combination of liquid carbon dioxide mobile phase with an octadecyl‐silica (C₁₈) column provided reversed phase mode separation, and a bare silica‐gel column resulted in normal phase mode separation. In both the cases, nonlinear behavior at approximately –15ºC was found in the relationship between the temperature and the retention factors of the analytes (van't Hoff plots). In contrast to general trends in high‐performance liquid chromatography, the decrease in temperature enhanced the separation efficiency of both the columns.     

A new look at light hydrocarbon separations on commercial alumina PLOT columns: Column selectivity and separation

Alumina-coated porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns are widely used for analyses of light hydrocarbons (C₁ to C₆). There is, however, a need for improved selectivity for complex analyses such as the determination of impurities in high purity petrochemical products. Some commercial alumina PLOT columns do not have sufficient selectivity for such analyses. The selectivity of four commercial alumina PLOT columns is evaluated for analyses of propylene and ethylene, and differences in column selectivity discussed. Requirements of column selectivity and retention are presented for several applications including the analysis of refinery gas, transformer oil gas, and fuel gas.     

Chromatographic study of the organic matter from Moroccan Rif bituminous rocks

The bituminous rocks of the Upper Cretaceous in the Moroccan Rif have been assessed and characterized in detail using organic geochemical techniques and a variety of organic geochemical parameters. The organic matter from 4 sites was studied in order to determine its thermal maturity and its depositional environments. The organic extracts (bitumens) were fractionated on silica-potassium hydroxide column according to the aliphatic hydrocarbons, acid compounds and polar compounds. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS).The distribution of the aliphatic hydrocarbon fractions, and the various organic geochemical parameters (pristane/phytane, isoprenoids/n-alkanes, CPI, C₂₇:C₂₈:C₂₉ regular, C₂₉20S/(20S+20R), C₂₉ββ/(ββ+αα), C₂₉/C₃₀ hopanes and Ts/Tm) showed that the studied samples were generally mature. Two of the 4 samples appeared to be derived from source rocks deposited under anoxic conditions while suboxic to oxic conditions seemed to have been dominant for the remaining two samples. Rock–Eval pyrolysis data in addition to GC results suggested types II, III and IV kerogens for the studied samples.     

On-line gas chromatographic analysis of light Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products

Summary A simple gas chromatographic system has been developed for the rapid on-line analysis of light Fischer-Tropsch products. This involves a single chromatography fitted with two columns, a porous-layer open-tubular column coated with KCl deactivated alumina and a packed Porapak-Q column. The capillary column separates the 16 most common C₁−C₄ hydrocarbons and permits a reasonable analysis of the hydrocarbons in the C₅−C₇ range. The packed column is used for the separation of methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water and methanol. Retention characteristics for the analysis on the capillary column are presented. The total analysis cycle is 30 minutes.     

Analysis of gases containing inorganic compounds and light hydrocarbons on fused-silica open-tubular columns prepared with a thick liquid phase film

Capillary columns having a thick liquid phase film and a low phase ratio permit the separation of low molecular mass compounds which would have a very small capacity factor on columns with a classical thin film. At the same time, the increased sample capacity allows conventional hot-wire thermal conductivity detectors to be used with such columns. The analysis of natural and refinery gases, containing both inorganic compounds and light (C₁? C₇) hydrocarbons, utilizing a combination of hot-wire and flame ionization detectors, is demonstrated.     

Quantitative gas chromatographic analysis of hydrocarbon systems using the lovelock diode detector and capillary columns

The application of gas chromatography using capillary columns and the lovelock diode detector to the quantitative analysis of a variety of hydrocarbons in the C₆—C₁₂ molecular weight range is described. The hydrocarbons studied include aliphatics, aromatics, alicyclics, and olefinics. With these molecules and in this molecular weight range, excellent quantitative results are easy to achieve. The response of the lovelock diode under the conditions employed is such that an excellent agreement between weight per cent in the sample and area per cent on the chromatogram exists. The operating parameters of the capillary-diode system have been studied. It has been found that sample size and scavenger flow rate are the only critical parameters controlling quantitative results.     

Catalytic Reduction of CN−, CO,and CO2 by Nitrogenase Cofactors in Lanthanide‐Driven Reactions

Nitrogenase cofactors can be extracted into an organic solvent to catalyze the reduction of cyanide (CN^?), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) without using adenosine triphosphate (ATP), when samarium(II) iodide (SmI₂) and 2,6‐lutidinium triflate (Lut‐H) are employed as a reductant and a proton source, respectively. Driven by SmI₂, the cofactors catalytically reduce CN^? or CO to C₁–C₄ hydrocarbons, and CO₂ to CO and C₁–C₃ hydrocarbons. The C? C coupling from CO₂ indicates a unique Fischer–Tropsch‐like reaction with an atypical carbonaceous substrate, whereas the catalytic turnover of CN^?, CO, and CO₂ by isolated cofactors suggests the possibility to develop nitrogenase‐based electrocatalysts for the production of hydrocarbons from these carbon‐containing compounds.     

The Analysis of volatile compounds by purge and trap with whole column cryotrapping (WCC) on a fused silica capillary column

The purge and trap (P&T) method of analysis has been interfaced with fused silica capillary column gas chromatography. This interfacing has been accomplished without splitting the P&T trap desorption carrier gas. Thus, 100% of the purged compounds are transferred to the column. The analytes are cryofocussed on the column using whole column cryotrapping (WCC) at ?80°C. The resulting P&T/WCC procedure is extremely well-suited to the analysis of trace purgeable aqueous organic compounds. Samples and standards containing a variety of aromatic standard compounds were analyzed. The standards included benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, C₃-C₄-benzenes, and naphthalene, as well as three P&T internal standard compounds. Chromatographic peak widths were uniformly less than 6 s at the base and excellent precision was obtained in the relative retention time data for all compounds. The chromatogram of a groundwater sample contaminated with aromatic gasoline compounds is also presented. Since P&T/WCC works well with fused silica capillary columns, the full sensitivity and chromatographic efficiency of capillary gas chromatography is made available to P&T analyses.     

Clean-up of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and 3-ring azaarenes and their GC-analysis on whisker-walled open tubular columns

A modified clean-up of polynuclear aromatic (PNA) hydrocarbons on XAD-2 is described. n-Alkanes (C₁₆? C₂₈) are separated quantitatively from the PNA hydrocarbons and are eluted in one fraction. The distribution of 17 PNA hydrocarbons and four of their alkyl derivatives, two S-heterocyclic compounds and two azaarenes between the different fractions is reported. Azaarenes containing three rings are separated from PNA hydrocarbons and S-heterocyclic compounds. Whisker-walled open tubular columns coated with OV-215 and OV-25 were used in the separation of isomeric azaarenes and in PNA hydrocarbon profile analysis, respectively. The preparation of such columns is described in detail. Rinsing of capillary columns with cold, concentrated HCI after whisker growth removes much larger amounts of boron and sodium than subsequent leaching with HCI at 180°C. Whisker-walled open tubular columns are successfully applied to the characterization of isomeric benzofluoranthenes and other PNA hydrocarbons isolated from air particulate matter.     

Development of a fifteen component hydrocarbon gas standard reference material at 5 nmol/mol in nitrogen

Primary gravimetric gas cylinder standards containing fifteen alkane, alkene and aromatic hydrocarbons (C₂–C₁₀) were prepared. A procedure previously developed to prepare gas cylinder standards for volatile organic compounds at the 5 nmol/mol (ppb) level was used. The set of primary hydrocarbon gas standards prepared by this procedure were intercompared by using gas chromatography with a hydrogen flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The linear regression analysis showed excellent agreement among the standards for each compound. Similar mixtures containing many of these hydrocarbons have been evaluated over time and have shown stability of the concentrations in aluminum gas cylinders for three years. This research resulted in the production and certification of Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1800, which contains fifteen hydrocarbons in nitrogen at a nominal concentration of 5 nmol/mol for each analyte. A batch of twenty-four cylinders containing the mixture was prepared at NIST following previously demonstrated protocols for their preparation. Each cylinder was analyzed against one cylinder from the batch, designated as the “lot control”, for each of the fifteen hydrocarbons. The data showed that the batch was homogeneous, from 0.2 to 0.7% depending on the compound, and stable for each hydrocarbon in the mixture resulting in certification and issuance of SRM 1800.     

Sputtered alumina as a novel stationary phase for micro machined gas chromatography columns

Silica and graphite sputtering have previously been reported as novel solid stationary phase deposition techniques for micro gas chromatography columns. As a conventional solid stationary phase in gas chromatography, compatible with sputtering yet so far unreported, alumina was evaluated in this study. Alumina sputtered semi-packed micro columns were fabricated (including an activation step) and proved able to separate a mixture of volatile alkanes (C₁–C₄ with isomers) in less than 1 min. Kinetic and a thermodynamic evaluation led to calculation of 4,500 theoretical plates for ethane in 1.1 m (HETP_min?=?250 μm) and a Gibbs free energy for propane of 30.2 kJ mol^?1, making this stationary phase’s properties very close to those observed with silica-sputtered micro columns.     

Gaschromatographische Untersuchung der Adsorptionseigenschaften von Silicalit und ZSM-5

High silica molecular sieves (silicalite, ZSM-5) were tested as adsorbents for gas chromatographic trace analysis. Therefore the retention behaviour of low-boiling organic compounds (hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, amines, alcohols and ethers) on these materials was investigated. The specific retention volumes at different temperatures have been determined and elution orders and peak shapes were studied. The retention data allow a simple calculation of the breakthrough volumes (dynamic adsorption capacity) and the chromatographic characterisation of the adsorbents. Both nitrogen and oxygen containing compounds could not—or at least unreproducibely—be eluated up to 300°. The elution order and the peak shape of compounds with the same number of carbon atoms but different geometric and electronic structure (e.g.n-butenes;n-hexane, cyclohexane, benzene) can be explained by the action of exclusion effects and different diffusion barriers. On the basis of calculated breakthrough volumes we conclude that silicalite should be useful in the preconcentration of both saturated C₃–C₆ hydrocarbons and C₁–C₂ chlorinated hydrocarbons from gaseous streams.     

Preconcentration of Volatile Hydrocarbons as Air Pollutants by C-18 Bonded Silica used for Solid Phase Extraction

ABSTRACT

C₁₈-Silica used for Solid-Phase Extraction exhibits the same degree of adsorption of volatile hydrocarbons as compared to conventional Tenax adsorbent. The vapor pressure of the hydrocarbons and the velocity of the air sample through the sorbent are dominants of the preconcentration. Recovery of 80% for n-hexane and 98% for p-xylene at a concentration of 10 mg.m^?3 was obtained at 10 ml.g^?.min^? velocity.

C₁₈Bond Elut cartridges have been successfully used for quantitative determination of hydrocarbons as air pollutants by gas chromatography. The detection limit for p-xylene using preconcentration from 1 L air sample and a S/N ratio of 5 was 0.1 mg.m^?3. After regeneration of C₁₈Bond Elut cartridges by washing with acetonitrile and diethyl ether and drying at 85°C/15 min, their preconcentration potential remain acceptable upon reusing at least three times.     

Analysis of a C9?C10 aromatic hydrocarbon pyrolysis distillate by multidimensional capillary GC and multidimensional capillary GC-MS

This paper describes the use of multidimensional capillary gas chromatography for analysis of individual components in a C₉? C₁₀ aromatic hydrocarbon pyrolysis distillate containing substantial amounts of aromatic olefins. By coupling this GC-GC system on-line to a mass spectrometer difficulties in identifying overlapping compounds were overcome. No coelution of different types of compound was observed, but a few isomeric compounds such as methylstyrenes were poorly separated.     

A four factor simplex optimization of a serially coupled open tublar columns gas chromatographic system

Optimization of a gas chromatographic system with two capillary columns coupled in series in a single oven for the linear temperature programmed separation of a mixture of C₁ C₁₀ hydrocarbons has been carried out using the simplex optimization method. The following four selectivity parameters were optimized: the initial temperature of the oven; the initial hold time; the temperature programmed rate; and the pressure at the mid-point of the system. The optimization procedure was monitored by the C_p criterion.     

Chromatographic Properties of Monolithic Silica Capillary Columns for Polar and Nonpolar Compounds in Reversed-Phase HPLC

Retention properties of monolithic silica C₁₈ columns were examined for polar and nonpolar compounds. Monolithic silica columns were prepared from two kinds of starting materials, tetramethoxysilane (abbreviated as TMOS) or a mixture of TMOS and methyltrimethoxysilane (abbreviated as Hybrid), and modified with dimethyloctadecylchlorosilane (C₁₈). Retention factors of various compounds on Hybrid-C₁₈ are about twice as much as that on TMOS-C₁₈. The two types of columns showed very similar retention selectivity with few exceptions. TMOS-C₁₈ showed slight preference toward planar polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compared to bulky aromatic hydrocarbons, while Hybrid-C₁₈ showed opposite tendency. Some TMOS-C₁₈ columns showed peak tailing for PAHs, and also for basic compounds in an acidic mobile phase, while Hybrid-C₁₈ and majority of TMOS-C₁₈ columns resulted in good peak shape for these compounds.     

Oxidative degradation products of irradiated polyethylene

Oxidative thermal degradation products of polyethylenes at various temperatures crosslinked with electron beams have been analyzed with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are determined at a temperature range of 200–340°C, and the activation energies of the unirradiated and the irradiated polyethylene (at 100 Mrad) are 13.5 and 11.4 Kcal/mole, respectively. C₁ to C₈ hydrocarbons produced in air and in nitrogen are determined at temperatures from 400 to 450°C for the polyethylenes. The irradiated polyethylene produces less hydrocarbons in air than the unirradiated polyethylene, contrary to the fact that the crosslinked polymer evolves more hydrocarbons than the unirradiated polymer in a nitrogen atmosphere. Aldehydes and ketones are observed in the volatile oxidative degradation products, and these carbonyl compounds increase quantitatively with increase of temperature up to about 460°C. It is concluded that irradiated polyethylene is thermally more unstable in the absence of oxygen and more easily oxidable at low degradation temperatures in air than unirradiated polyethylene. Irradiated polyethylene, however, is more heat-stable than unirradiated polyethylene from the standpoint of the ignition process.     

Analysis of C19O3 steroids by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

The separation of twenty-six saturated and two unsaturated C₁₉O₃ steroids has been studied by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel F₂₅₄, with seven mobile phases, and by gas-liquid chromatography on packed columns with four stationary phases; combination of both techniques permitted separation of all the test compounds. The mass spectra of the steroids were obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and are presented. Fragmentation processes have been studied, and characteristic ions that may be used for multiple ion detection or lead to identification of biologically produced C₁₉O₃ steroids are discussed.