GC with LC-like packed capillary columns

Capillary columns of 0.3–0.35 mm internal diameter and 0.3–7.7 m length, packed with 3 to 30 μm octadecylsilica stationary phases as used for liquid chromatography, were applied to gas chromatographic separation of low boiling hydrocarbons. Van Deemter plots for these columns showed the optimum column efficiency to occur at linear velocities of 4–5 cm/s. A short column was applied to the rapid separation of components of a natural gas and impurities in standard gases, while a long column was applied to the separation of complex mixtures.     

On-line multidimensional chromatography using packed capillary liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography

The introduction of selected fractions from a liquid chromatograph into a gas chromatograph has been described; however, analyses were performed by off-line experiments requiring collection and reinjection of the separate fractions or by on-line procedures where disadvantageously, only a fraction of the separated peak or a well resolved component in a mixture could be introduced into a gas chromatograph. This disadvantage is overcome by the apparatus and method described in this paper, which utilizes a multidimensional chromatography system employing a high efficiency, packed capillary LC column coupled on-line to a capillary gas chromatograph. The liquid chromatograph (so designed) can act as a highly efficient clean-up or chemical class fractionation step prior to introduction into the gas chromatograph, significantly reducing sample preparation times in many applications. Thus minor components in a complex matrix can be determined without prior sample clean-up, an example of which is the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in a complex hydrocarbon matrix.     

Gas chromatography of plasma amino acids using a wide bore column: Comparison with packed and capillary columns

A procedure is described in which a wide bore glass capillary column is used as an alternative to the more traditional packed column in the analysis of amino acid levels in plasma. The coefficients of variation for all amino acids (with the exception of aspartic acid) were better than 11% with recoveries ranging from 81% to 122%. The data are compared with the corresponding results obtained using a packed column and show significant differences (p < 0.005) between values for glycine, serine, isoleucine, proline, methionine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and lysine. A similar comparison between results from the wide bore and the fused-silica open tubular (FSOT) column shows better agreement. Adjustment of chromatographic conditions for the wide bore analysis yields results in good agreement with those from FSOT analysis but which still differe significantly from the backed column data.     

In situ fabrication of microporous organic network coated capillary column for high resolution gas chromatographic separation of hydrocarbons

Microporous organic networks (MONs) are a new class of porous materials synthesized via Sonogashira coupling reactions between organic building blocks. Here we report an in situ synthesis approach to fabricate MONs coated capillary column for high resolution GC separation of hydrocarbons. The McReynolds constant evaluation reveals the MONs coated capillary is a non‐polar column. The MONs coated capillary column shows good resolution for GC separation of diverse important industrial hydrocarbons such as linear and branched alkanes, alkylbenzenes, pinene isomers, ethylbenzene and styrene, cyclohexane and benzene. The MONs coated capillary column gave a high column efficiency of 1542 plates per meter for hexane and good precision for replicate separations of the selected hydrocarbons with the RSDs of 0.2–0.3, 1.5–3.1, and 1.9–3.3% for retention time, peak height and peak area, respectively. The MONs coated capillary also offered better resolution than commercial Inert Cap‐1 and Inert Cap‐5 capillary columns for hexane and heptane isomers. These results reveal the potential of MONs as novel stationary phases in GC.     

A study of chromatographic properties of liquid crystalline polyacrylates using WCOT columns in gas chromatography

Liquid crystalline polyacrylates (LCPAs) are evaluated as stationary phases for capillary gas chromatography (CGC). Aromatic hydrocarbons as well as polar isomeric compounds are used as test solutes to compare the polarity of the LCPAs with a conventional polysiloxane column and a Carbowax 20M column. The relative polarity of the columns with respect to change in the lateral and terminal substituents is also discussed. Lateral substitution, polarity of the terminal group, together with the solute size, affect the LCPA selectivity.     

Fast supercritical fluid chromatography of polymers using packed capillary columns

Summary Fast separations of perfluorinated polyethers and polymethylsiloxanes that are composed of 50–80 oligomers were demonstrated in packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using a carbon dioxide mobile phase. Separations were accomplished within 10 min using a 13 cm×250 μm i.d. column packed with 2 μm porous octadecyl bonded silica (ODS) particles. Effects of particle diameter of the packing material and pressure programming on separation were investigated, and packed column SFC was compared with open tubular column SFC. Results show that as the particle diameter was decreased from 5 to 3 to 2 μm and the column length was reduced from 85 to 43 to 13 cm, the separation time could be reduced from 70 to 20 to 10 min while still maintaining similar separation (resolution). Short columns packed with small porous particles are very suitable for fast SFC separations of polymers.     

Gas chromatographic analysis of organic solvent mixtures on capillary columns of different polarity

Summary A gas chromatographic method for the analysis of organic solvents in chemical products is described. The analysis is performed by the use of a polar column, Supelcowax 10, and a non-polar column CP-Sil-5CB. Samples containing a non-volatile matrix or water were analysed by headspace analysis. The identification of the solvents in a sample, based on GC retention times on one column, is confirmed by GC of the sample on the second column. The method has been found to be suitable for the routine analysis of solvent mixtures.     

Applications of heart cutting from packed to capillary columns

The power of capillary gas chromatography can be enhanced by selective fractionation of the sample. One way of doing this is heart cutting from a packed gas chromatographic column. This paper describes modification of a commercial instrument for such separations. Components of the system include an automated Deans switch and an electrically heated trap. The benefits of this arrangement are illustrated with chromatograms of naphtha, urinary aromatic acids, and wine volatiles.     

Gas chromatographic separation of the stereoisomers of organophosphorus chemical warfare agents using cyclodextrin capillary columns

The synthesis of the organophosphorus nerve agents sarin, tabun, and cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GF) produces a mixture of two stereoisomers except for soman where four stereoisomers are produced. Significant differences exist in the reported toxicity and AChE inhibition rates of the various stereoisomers. This makes the ability to distinguish between the different stereoisomers desirable. Five different derivatized cyclodextrin stationary phases developed for gas chromatography were tested for their ability to resolve the nerve agent stereoisomers using a gas chromatograph interfaced to an atomic emission detector. Of the five columns that we examined, only the 2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-trifluoroacetyl or 2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-butyryl γ-cyclodextrins were able to successfully resolve all four soman stereoisomers. The elution order for each column was determined using solutions of isolated soman stereoisomers. Enantiomers of sarin, tabun, and GF were resolved with varying degrees of success on the different cyclodextrin stationary phases. Only the butyryl γ-cyclodextrin was able to separate the enantiomers of all four of the nerve agents examined in this study. The capacity (k) and selectivity (α) factors were determined for each of the chemical warfare agents successfully separated. The TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory in the Netherlands has previously developed several different chromatographic methods to resolve the stereoisomers of soman, sarin, and tabun. The advantage of the method described here is that commercially available cyclodextrin gas chromatography columns were used to resolve the stereoisomers, thereby facilitating rapid and routine analysis of organophosphorus nerve agents.     

Polyethylenimine-modified metal oxides for fabrication of packed capillary columns for capillary electrochromatography and capillary liquid chromatography

The need for novel packing materials in both capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) is apparent and the development towards more selective, application-oriented chromatographic phases is under progress world-wide. In this study we have synthesized new polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized Mn(2)O(3), SiO(2), SnO(2), and ZrO(2) particles for the fabrication of packed capillary columns for CEC and CLC. The nanocasting approach was successful for the preparation of functionalized metal oxide materials with a controlled porosity and morphology. PEI functionalization was done using ethyleneimine monomers to create particles which are positively charged in aqueous solution below pH 9. This functionalization allowed the possibility to have both hydrophobic (due to its alkyl chain) and ionic interactions (due to positively charged amino groups) with selected compounds. For comparison aminopropyl-functionalized silica was also synthesized and tested. Both slurry pressure and electrokinetic packing procedures used gave similar results, but fast sedimentation of the material caused some problems during the packing. The high stability and wide pH range of PEI-functionalized SiO(2) material, with potential for hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, proved to be useful for the CEC and CLC separation of some model acidic and neutral compounds.     

Gas chromatographic determination of chlorobenzenes and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in environmental samples using fused silica capillary columns

Summary In order to assess the pathways of chlorinated benzenes and toluenes, hexachlorobutadiene and polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment capillary gas chromatographic methods have been developed for analysis of water, sediments and biological samples. Compound recoveries are reported from water, using liquid-liquid extraction with hexane, and from sediments and fish, using soxhlet extraction with hexane/acetone. After suitable cleanup, hexane extracts are chromatographed on a duel fused silica column arrangement (OV1 and SE54 with electron capture detectors for quantitation. The application of these procedures to environmental analysis is discussed.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Gas chromatographic retention indices for alkenes on OV-101 and squalane capillary columns

Summary Gas chromatographic retention indices for 47 C₅ to C₈ alkenes on OV-101 dimethylsilicone at 50 and 70 °C were determined within a standard deviation of 0.3i.u. Data obtained on OV-101 are compared with those measured on squalane. The comparison of the retention index and dl/dT values from both columns is presented as linear regression equations with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98.     

Gas chromatographic analysis of estrogens from pregnant mares' urine using glass capillary columns

Glass capillary columns coated with OV-225 and Silar 10C were used to analyze estrogens (as their trimethylsilyl derivatives) present in pregnant mares' urine. Such columns provide better resolution in a shorter time than the corresponding packed columns, as exemplified by the separation of estrone from equilin.     

Comparison of packed and capillary columns for quantitative gas chromatography of triglycerides in milk fat

Summary Quantitative gas chromatography of triglycerides in conjunction with established triglyceride formulae can be used to determine various milk fat parameters. Since the evaluation of, for example, iodine number or content of non-milk fats (foreign fats) in milk fat requires only the separation of triglycerides by carbon number and since repeatabilities, especially of the highboiling triglycerides, have been less acceptable with capillary columns in the past, packed columns have been used exclusively. There is, however, an increasing demand for the use of capillary instead of packed columns and to that end the present investigation has been carried out. To achieve a suitable resolution, with this particularly exacting high-temperature application, a short 5 m capillary column of extreme temperature stability has been used. As well as modification of various analytical conditions different injection techniques have been investigated. On-column, PTV and split injection were compared with regard to repeatability. The cold-on-column injection technique was found to produce the best results, being comparable to the excellent precision of a packed column. Thus, a method is now available by means of which the determination of milk fat parameters by the triglyceride formulae, such as the amount of foreign fats in milk fat, can now be carried out with a standardized capillary column.     

Gas chromatographic separation of sugars by on-column injection on glass capillary columns

Sugars were separated gas chromatographically on short apolar glass capillary columns by using cold, on-column injection (OCI) techniques. After silylation, oligomers up to the hexasaccharides could be efficiently separated in resonable retention times. Response factors of silylated sugars were determined as a function of varying sample amounts and concentrations. The optimum injection amount was found to be 1 μl in heptane as solvent.     

Evaluation of packed capillary liquid chromatography columns and comparison with conventional-size columns

Apart from extracolumn effects peak dispersion in liquid chromatographic columns is caused by the column inlet, the packed bed, and the column outlet. A strategy applicable for independent evaluation of the individual sources of column band broadening was developed on the basis of the linear extrapolation method (LEM). This method was applied to compare the performance of packed capillary LC columns from various commercial suppliers with conventional-size columns. The columns differed widely in their performance with respect to peak shapes and widths for standard substances. The capillary columns were found well packed, but in some cases overall performance would benefit from improving the design of the area between the packed bed and the connecting capillaries, containing frits as well as dead volumes.     

Towards high peak capacity separations in normal pressure nanoflow liquid chromatography using meter long packed capillary columns

Single shot proteomics is a promising approach to high throughput proteomics analysis. In this strategy, long capillary columns are needed to perform long and shallow gradients to achieve high peak capacity and good peak width for informative mass spectrometric detection. Herein, we report that meter long capillary columns, packed with 5 μm particulate material, can be facilely fabricated based on single particle fritting technology. The long columns could reliably generate high peak capacities of 800 in 10 h long gradients for protein digest separations. The operation was within the pressure range (40 MPa) of the most widely used normal pressure nanoLC systems. Due to the excellent life time (>100 injections) and inter-column performance consistency, the meter long capillary columns reported here should be of practical usefulness in single shot proteomics without the need for ultra-high pressure instrumentation.