Retention models for programmed gas chromatography

The models proposed by many authors for the prediction of retention times and temperatures, peak widths, retention indices and separation numbers in programmed temperature and pressure gas chromatography by starting from preliminary measurements of the retention in isothermal and isobaric conditions are reviewed. Several articles showing the correlation between retention data and thermodynamic parameters and the determination of the optimum programming rate are reported. The columns of different polarity used for the experimental measurement and the main equations, mathematical models and calculation procedures are listed. An empirical approach was used in the early models, followed by the application of thermodynamic considerations, iterative calculation procedures and statistical methods, based on increased computing power now available. Multiple column arrangements, simultaneous temperature and pressure programming, applications of two-dimensional and fast chromatography are summarised.     

Calculation of retention indices in temperature-programmed gas chromatography

Summary A new method is presented for the calculation of the retention indices under linear temperature programming with or without an initial isothermal period. The data calculated by the method are in good agreement with the isothermal retention indices.     

Temperature programmed retention indices: Calculation from isothermal data. Part 2: Results with nonpolar columns

The procedure for calculating linear temperature programmed indices as described in part 1 has been evaluated using five different nonpolar columns, with OV-1 as the stationary phase. For fourty-three different solutes covering five different classes of components, including n-alkanes and alkyl-aromatic compounds, both isothermal and temperature programmed indices were determined. The isothermal information was used to calculate temperature programmed indices. For several linear programmed conditions accuracies better than 0.51^T-units were usually obtained. The results are compared with published procedures. It is demonstrated that isothermal retention information obtained on one column can be transferred to another column with the same stationary phase but different column dimensions and/or phase ratio. The temperature programmed indices calculated in this way also have an accuracy better than 0.51^T-u. The temperature accuracy and precision of the GC-instrumentation used was of the order of 0.1°C. All calculations can be run with a Basic-programmed microcomputer.     

Prediction of retention values in linear temperature programming of narrow and mega-bore capillary columns

Retention times in linear temperature programmed gas chromatography on narrow bore and megabore capillary columns have been calculated from experimental retention times measured at three isothermal temperatures: an iterative procedure performed by BASIC programs was used to obtain the values of the constants enabling the calculation of the programmed temperature retention times. Different methods of calculation have been compared.     

Prediction of the separation number of capillary columns in programmed temperature gas chromatographic analysis

The efficiency of capillary columns in programmed temperature analysis can be evaluated by calculation of the separation number (“Trennzahl”). A procedure for the prediction of this parameter at various initial temperatures, carrier gas pressures and heating rates, by using as the starting data the retention times and the peak widths obtained in some isobaric and isothermal runs is described. An equation is proposed that permits to obtain the values of the peak width at half height in any isothermal and linearly programmed temperature gas chromatographic run and therefore to calculate the separation number value. The effect on this parameter of the column polarity was investigated by using polar and non-polar compounds (n-alkanes and 1-alcohols).     

Gas chromatographic retention indices of fentanyl and analogues

Narcotic analgesics of the fentanyl class are characterized by high potency and relatively short duration of action. These compounds nowadays have become a substitute for heroine and are highly addictive for abusers. Herein, we report retention indices of fentanyl and its eighteen analogues relative to the homologous n-alkane series. These values are determined on a moderately polar BP-5 capillary column under programmed temperature and isothermal chromatographic conditions. The analogues differ in the substituent attached to the piperidine ring nitrogen, and retention indices are found to vary according to the nature of the substituent. The effects of chromatographic conditions like temperature programming rate, carrier gas flow rate, and oven temperature are studied. Retention indices are also determined on a non-polar BP-1 column to study the influence of stationary phase polarity. Standard deviation of all the RI values is less than one index unit.     

Disengaging solutes in shale- and petroleum-derived jet fuels by altering GC programmed temperature rates

Overlapping chromatographic peaks of components from different hydrocarbon classes can be disengaged by exploiting their shifts in relative retention behavior with changes in linear rates of programmed temperature. Many co-eluting species in complex chromatograms of shale- and petroleum-derived jet fuels can be resolved without varying stationary phase, column length, or initial column temperature. Retention indices were simultaneously determined on two bonded-phase, fused silica capillary columns of slightly different polarities at three different linear programmed temperature rates. For certain hydrocarbon types, no change in index values was observed with an alteration in programming rate. However, the indices of other hydrocarbon classes shifted uniformly with programmed temperature rates on each of the two stationary phases. When applied, this phenomenon could help resolve coeluting members of different or even the same hydrocarbon type and elucidate their probable structure. The overall precision of the retention indices, i.e., the mean standard deviation at the 95% confidence levels, was less than ±0.13 for either column at any of the three programming rates. Since the above technique is automated, it could also be a useful screening tool to search for specific hydrocarbons in a myriad of unknown components of a complex hydrocarbon mixture.     

A method of calculating the second dimension retention index in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A method was developed to calculate the second dimension retention index of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOF-MS) data using n-alkanes as reference compounds. The retention times of the C(7)-C(31) alkanes acquired during 24 isothermal experiments cover the 0-6s retention time area in the second dimension retention time space, which makes it possible to calculate the retention indices of target compounds from the corresponding retention time values without the extension of the retention space of the reference compounds. An empirical function was proposed to show the relationship among the second dimension retention time, the temperature of the second dimension column, and the carbon number of the n-alkanes. The proposed function is able to extend the second dimension retention time beyond the reference n-alkanes by increasing the carbon number. The extension of carbon numbers in reference n-alkanes up to two more carbon atoms introduces <10 retention index units (iu) of deviation. The effectiveness of using the proposed method was demonstrated by analyzing a mixture of compound standards in temperature programmed experiments using 6 different initial column temperatures. The standard deviation of the calculated retention index values of the compound standards fluctuated from 1 to 12 iu with a mean standard deviation of 5 iu.     

Prediction of retention times and efficiency in linear gradient programmed pressure analysis on capillary columns

A method for the prediction of the retention time and the resolution of chromatographic peaks in different experimental conditions by starting from few experimental data measured in isothermal and isobaric analyses was published previously. In this paper, the same mathematical model was implemented for calculating the retention times and the column efficiency in programmed pressure runs. Some models originated from the Golay equation and reported in the literature are compared, and a new modified equation for the calculation of the peak width at half height is proposed. The procedure for the prediction of the retention time and the peak width at half height at programmed pressure of the carrier gas and different column temperature and linear gradient by using retention data of different compounds obtained in few isobaric runs is described. The prediction of the retention time and the separation efficiency of compounds with different polarity gave good results for the programmed pressure runs with linear gradient. The effect of the variation of the initial parameters of the experimental analyses and of the mathematical model on the accuracy of the prediction has been evaluated.     

Prediction of programmed temperature retention times on linked capillary columns of different polarity

Systems formed by serial connection of capillary columns of different polarity were studied with methods previously used to predict the behavior of linked capillary columns under isothermal conditions and to obtain programmed temperature gas chromatography (PTGC) retention times of the individual columns starting from isothermal data. The two calculation methods were simultaneously applied in order to predict PTGC retention times of the series system starting from isothermal data obtained on the two individual columns. Experimental retention values measured using different temperature programs on the individual columns and on the series systems were found to agree with those calculated.     

Factors affecting the reproducibility and reliability of retention simulation in any form of temperature programmed capillary GC

Conversion of Kováts retention indices on a given stationary phase into the thermodynamic parameters of compounds on a given column leads to a simplified method for retention simulation in isothermal, linear, and multi-ramp temperature programmed capillary gas chromatography. The influence of numerical methods used in the computation, the temperature coefficient of Kováts indices, and the experimental factors such as isothermal temperatures selected in the measurement of n-alkanes, column characterization and sample overloading, on the reproducibility and accuracy of simulation were discussed and examined. When the column used is properly characterized, the error between the simulated values and the experimental data is within ± 0.5 index unit or less than ± 1% of retention time.     

Live retention database for identification of compounds in capillary gas chromatographic analysis --Principle and structure

A live retention database for compound identification in isothermal and any step temperature programmed capillary gas chromatography has been developed. The database utilizes the Kovats retention indices of compounds on a given stationary phase and the retention time of n-alkanes measured at isothermal conditions on the column to be used, together with the programming parameters. Identification is performed by search operation that compares the calculated results with the retention values of unknown peaks. Cross-reference of the search results of different operating conditions is performed automatically by the database in order to increase the reliability of the identification. The error of the database conversion is ≤± 0.5 index unit, or ≤± 1% on retention time. This paper describes the principle and the structure of the database in detail. The experimental results for different calsses of compounds tested at divers operating conditions will be presented in Part Ⅱ.     

Determination of thermodynamic characteristics from retention data in GC

Summary Retention data have been measured for model substances of different polarities under isothermal conditions at several temperatures using capillary columns coated with Carbowax-20M and SP-2100 stationary phases. By using the k capacity ratios obtained for various temperatures the thermodynamic characteristics of the partition process were determined. For homologous series linear relationships can be established between thermodynamic characteristics and carbon number. Thermodynamic characteristics can be used both to compare and evaluate column quality and to predict retention indices for different temperatures and linear programmed temperature conditions.Dedicated to Professor J. F. K. Huber on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Use of literature values of temperature programmed retention indexes in qualitative analysis by isothermal gas chromatography

Numerous reports have appeared on the determination of temperature programmed retention indexes in gas chromatography and although chromatographic variables should be completely consistent with published data if such indexes are to be of use, the reproduction of such rigorous parameters is quite difficult. This report presents an approximate method for using published values of temperature programmed retention indexes in isothermal chromatography. In general, the temperature dependence of the isothermal retention indexes of a number of compounds can be expressed as a series of oblique lines on a plot with retention index as the abscissa and temperature as the ordinate; the elution order of the compounds at a given, isothermal, temperature is then indicated by the points at which the compounds' oblique lines cut the horizontal line corresponding to the temperature of interest. In linear temperature programmed chromatography, the horizontal line representing isothermal operation becomes, to a first approximation, a sloping line with a gradient corresponding to the programming rate: this has been verified experimentally and may be valid over a wide range of temperatures. This line can be used to predict isothermal retention indexes for use in qualitative analysis.     

GC behaviour of symmetrical n-dialkyl sulphides under isothermal and temperature programming conditions

Retention indices were determined for a homologous series of n-dialkyl sulphides on three stationary phases (SE-30, OV-17 and XE-60) under isothermal and linear temperature programming conditions. Under these two different GC conditions, equations were derived for each of the three stationary phases which showed the dependence of retention index on the number of carbon atoms and the boiling points for a homologous series of n-dialkyl sulphides. The equation for the correlation isothermal retention index was shown to be applicable to the identification of n-dialkyl sulphides using linear temperature programming. It was found that the GC behaviour of n-dialkyl sulphides makes these compounds suitable for use as a standard series instead of n-alkanes for the calculation of retention indices in GC analysis in which detectors insensitive to n-alkanes are employed. The use of the homologous series of n-dialkyl sulphides for the calculation of sulphide retention indices can be great practical importance in the microanalysis of natural compounds. We have used this method successfully in the analysis of pesticides containing S-atoms.     

Calculation of retention indices and peak widths in temperature programmed gas-liquid chromatography

Summary Isothermal chromatographic measurements lead directly to H _v ^o and A (entropy term) of solutes, and three constants of an empirical relationship between peak width and column temperature. From the thermodynamic parameters H _v ^o and A retention temperatures have been computed by means of a theoretical model including temperature dependence of carrier gas viscosity, and subsequently retention times; programmed retention indices have been determined by linear and polynomial interpolations. By substituting the value of the calculated retention temperature in the above-mentioned relationship, peak width at half-height for a linear temperature may be estimated. Predicted retentions correlate with observed data, with a P-value 0.01; simulation accuracy is generally 6–10% for peak widths.Retention indices of some organochlorine species, separated on an OV-101 capillary column, may differ by as much as 26 units depending on the method of calculation. Polynomial-calculated indices are more consistent with the retention index scheme, and have smaller standard deviations and better constancy at different heating rates.     

Off-line optimization of the separation of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones by gas chromatography using chemometric techniques

An off-line optimization technique based on soft modeling methods has been used to determine the optimum conditions for the separation of eight carbonyl-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones by gas chromatography equipped with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector. In this method theoretical simulations of peak retention time and peak width at base-line are coupled to a factorial design to map the chromatographic response surface. The calculated retention times from isothermal data have been used to calculate the chromatographic parameters. A full 3(3) factorial design was used to locate the optimum conditions for the temperature program, utilizing initial oven temperature, T(i), the programming rate for the first ramp, PR(1), and the programming rate for the second ramp, PR(2) as independent variables. The optimum conditions obtained for these parameters were: T(i), 140 degrees C; PR(1), 12 degrees Cmin(-1); PR(2), 8 degrees Cmin(-1). The maximum analysis times achieved by this optimum was 10.6 min.     

Investigation of high-speed gas chromatography using synchronized dual-valve injection and resistively heated temperature programming

High-speed temperature programming is implemented via the direct resistive heating of the separation column (2.3m MXT-5 Silicosteel column with a 180 microm I.D. and a 0.4 microm 5% phenyl/95% dimethyl polysiloxane film). Resistive temperature programming was coupled with synchronized dual-valve injection (with an injection pulse width of 2 ms), producing a complete high-speed gas chromatography (GC) system. A comparison of isothermal and temperature programmed separations of seven n-alkanes (C(6) and C(8)-C(13)) shows a substantial improvement of peak width and peak capacity with temperature programming. The system was further implemented in separations of a mixture of analytes from various chemical classes. Separations of the n-alkane mixture using three different temperature programming rates are reported. A temperature programming rate as high as 240 degrees C/s is demonstrated. The method for determination of temperature programming rate, based on isothermal data, is discussed. The high-speed resistive column heating temperature programming resulted in highly reproducible separations. The highest rate of temperature programming (240 degrees C/s) resulted in retention time and peak width RSD, on average, of 0.5 and 1.4%, respectively, for the n-alkane mixture. This high level of precision was achieved with peak widths-at-half-height ranging from 13 to 36 ms, and retention times ranging from 147 to 444 ms (for n-hexane to n-tridecane).     

Determination of retention indices in LPTGC

Summary A method is presented for the calculation of retention indices in linear programmed-temperature gas chromatography (LPTGC) on the basis of isothermal retention data and the operating conditions (initial temperature, programming rate, gas flow velocity) of the run. Part IV of a series; parts I, II and III see refs. [1], [2] and [3].     

Comparing columns for gas chromatography with the two-parameter model for retention prediction

The retention times of selected compounds in temperature programmed gas chromatography were predicted using a two-parameter model, on the basis of thermodynamic data obtained from isothermal runs on seven capillary columns, primarily substituted with 5% diphenylsiloxane. The scope for using thermodynamic data obtained from isothermal runs on one column to optimize separation on a different column or a different instrument setup was investigated. Additionally, the predictive utility of thermodynamic data obtained using a DB-5 column that had been in use for three years was compared to that of a new column of the same model. It was found that satisfactory separation could be achieved on one capillary column or instrument setup on the basis of thermodynamic data obtained using a different column or instrument set-up.