An accurate and easy procedure to obtain isothermal Kováts retention indices in gas chromatography

Isothermal Kováts retention indices may be used in GC for identification purposes, but they are also useful in characterisation of stationary phases and for studying structural and physico-chemical properties of both the analyte and the stationary phase. They are currently reported as whole numbers with an accuracy of one index unit for non-polar stationary phases. The method recommended for their calculation uses a linear regression model, although non-linear models have also been applied with good results. In both cases, a computer programme and the retention times of a series of n-alkanes that elute correctly and resolved from the other compounds are needed, conditions which cannot always be fulfilled. However, it is possible to calculate retention indices with an accuracy of 0.1 retention index units (0.2 units for packed columns) with the help of only three n-alkanes using just a pocket calculator or a computer spreadsheet. The main requirement is that at least one of the n-alkanes has a retention index differing by no more than one hundred retention index units from that of the analyte being investigated. Examples are given for different stationary phases.     

Retention Indices for Most Frequently Reported Essential Oil Compounds in GC

Retention indices were evaluated for one hundred most commonly reported essential oil compounds in gas chromatography (GC) using a large retention index database. Retention data are presented for three types of stationary phases: dimethyl silicone, dimethyl silicone with 5% phenyl groups, and polyethylene glycol stationary phases. The data evaluations are based on the treatment of multiple measurements with the number of data records ranging between 30 and 470 per compound. Data distribution analysis was limited to temperature programming conditions. Data reported include the most probable value of retention index, average and median values, standard deviation, and confidence intervals. The values of most probable retention indices correspond to frequently used GC conditions of measurements (temperature program, column parameters, gas flow conditions). The results are compared with data from several available retention index collections.     

Retention index calculation without n-alkanes--the virtual carbon number

For the fast gas chromatographic identification of separated components the retention index is still one of the most often used tools, although mass spectrometry is available in almost all analytical laboratories. For the calculation of the retention indices it is not necessary to use n-alkanes or any other homologous series. If the analyte contains some compounds, not necessarily belonging to a homologous series, with well-known retention indices those compounds can be used as index references and the index of the other compounds can be calculated as is done using n-alkanes. The only difference is that instead of the carbon number of the n-alkanes, virtual carbon numbers of the reference compounds should be used. The method of calculation, and the effect of this method of calculation on the reproducibility are discussed in this paper, and analyses of some halogenated compounds and marjoram oil are used as experimental examples.     

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.     

Temperature programmed retention indices: Calculation from isothermal data. Part 1: Theory

Direct conversion of isothermal to temperature programmed indices is not possible. In this work it is shown that linear temperature programmed retention indices can only be calculated from isothermal retention data if the temperature dependence of both the distribution coefficients and the column dead time are taken into account. Procedures are described which allow calculation of retention temperatures and from these, accurate programmed retention indices. Within certain limits the initial oven temperature and programming rate can be chosen freely. The prerequisite for this calculation is the availability of reliable isothermal retention data (retention times, retention factors, relative retention times, or retention indices) at two different temperatures for one column. The use of compiled isothermal retention indices at two different temperatures for the calculation of retention temperatures and thus temperature programmed indices is demonstrated. For the column for which programmed retention indices have to be determined, the isothermal retention times of the n-alkanes and the column dead time as a function of temperature have to be known in addition to the compiled data for a given stationary phase. Once the programmed retention indices have been calculated for a given column the concept allows the calculation of temperature programmed indices for columns with different specifications. The characteristics which can be varied are: column length, column inner diameter, phase-ratio, initial oven temperature, and programming rate.     

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.     

直链单烯烃保留指数与分子结构关系的研究

根据同系直链单烯烃保留指数与同碳数正构烷烃保留指数差值与分子碳数间关系曲线拟合,提出预测同系直链单烯烃保留指数的准确公式。在ＳＱ,ＰＦＥ,ＰＥＧ－４０００上,利用所提出的公式对检验集中化合物保留指数预测值与实测值差的标准偏差在±０．９ｉ．ｕ．～±１．５ｉ．ｕ．之间。并且研究发现,同碳数、同几何构型直链单烯烃各位置异构体分子中双键位置与化合物保留指数具有指数关系。首次提出依据分子中双键位置预测其保留指数的准确公式。公式适合各种不同极性固定相。     

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.     

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].     

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.     

Hold-up time in gas chromatography. V. Dependence of the retention of n-alkanes on the chromatographic variables in isothermal gas chromatography

The chromatographic behaviour of n-alkanes and other homologous series in isothermal gas chromatography has been shown to depart from the "linear" representation of the logarithms of the adjusted retention times vs. carbon number. One of the expressions proposed to describe this behaviour is tR(z)=A+exp(B+CzD). In this paper, a regression analysis shows that three of the parameters of the equation depend on different chromatographic variables such as hold-up time, average linear gas velocity, volume and polarity of the stationary phase and temperature of the column. The fourth parameter (D), responsible for the departure from the "linearity", does not depend on any chromatographic variable, and represents a gradual decrease of the contribution of the methylene groups to the general properties of n-alkanes, with no relation to the chromatographic phenomenon.     

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.     

Perdeuterated n-alkanes for improved data processing in thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry I. Retention indices for identification

The identification of organic compounds by GC/MS is useful in various areas such as fuel, indoor and outdoor air and flavour and fragrance applications. Multi-compound mixtures often contain isomeric compounds which have similar mass spectra and sometimes cannot be unambiguously identified by library search alone. Retention indices can help with confirmation of identification if they are reproducible. Using perdeuterated n-alkanes as a reference series for calculation of retention indices in GC/MS has a clear benefit because of the distinctive ion trace of m/z 34. Thermal desorption is useful for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air after sampling on appropriate sorbent cartridges. Comparison of indices between three systems, consisting of a thermal desorption unit, a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer, showed good agreement for compounds with well-defined peaks, whereas retention times varied.     

Improving the accuracy of Kováts' retention indices in isothermal gas chromatography

Isothermal Kováts' retention indices are currently reported as whole numbers, and are frequently deduced from a linear least mean squares fitting of the logarithms of adjusted retention times of a number of n-alkanes versus carbon number, following an iterative method that minimises errors. The currently accepted accuracy is about one retention index unit for apolar stationary phases, and lower for polar stationary phases. This paper presents results that show how the accuracy of the retention index may be safely reported to one-tenth of a retention index unit by the use of a non-linear equation, with present day gas chromatographs without electronic flow controllers. Results are presented that prove the correctness of the retention indices found for several substances on one particular capillary column. Hints on the minimum retention times needed to achieve the 0.1 retention index accuracy are mentioned, for retention times recorded in minutes and in seconds. According to results of this paper, two chromatograms, run under the appropriate conditions, are sufficient to obtain the desired accuracy. The method proposed in this paper does not require knowledge of the hold-up time of the chromatogram.     

On the Relationship Between Kováts and Lee Retention Indices

A relationship between the Kováts and Lee retention indices was obtained for dimethylsilicone stationary phase and isothermal conditions. The temperature dependence of the retention indices was taken into account. Based on numerous experimental data for dimethylsilicone stationary phase, parameters of the linear temperature dependence of the Kováts indices were determined for the reference compounds of the Lee scale.     

Mathematical models of solute retention in gas chromatography as sources of thermodynamic data. Part 1. Methyl n-alkyl ketones as the test analytes

Although gas chromatography (GC) is mainly used for analytical and preparative separation of complicated mixtures and then identification of the separated components, it can also be used as a relatively simple tool for the determination of physicochemical (including thermodynamic) properties. In this study, we discuss three different retention models devised specially for GC. They are tested for a homologous series of methyl n-alkyl ketones chromatographed on stationary phases of low and medium polarity at several different isothermal temperatures. The statistical performance of each model is excellent, which makes them a convenient tool for the evaluation of analyte retention under the given working conditions. They can also be used for the determination of the numerical values of thermodynamic properties (e.g., the enthalpy of vaporization of the analytes and the standard molar chemical potential of the partitioning of one methylene group (-CH2-) between the stationary and mobile phases).     

Identification of unknown compounds on the basis of retention index data in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

The identification of unknown compounds in complex samples is very difficult. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) provides very good resolution and improved identification reliability. Mass spectrometry is a powerful identification tool and retention index data are another good approach to this end. In this study, a second-order polynomial was used to calculate retention index data based on n-alkanes beyond the region of the 'isovolatile' curve in GC x GC, and the results in the 2nd dimension were validated by using the same stationary phase column in one-dimensional GC. To test the usefulness of the method, volatile compounds in a tobacco leaf extract fraction were analyzed using GC x GC, and 60 compounds were identified on the basis of their retention indices.     

Prediction of gas chromatographic retention indices of linear,branched, and cyclic alkanes from their physicochemical properties

Kováts retention indices for a series of linear, branched, and cyclic alkanes on squalane at any temperature, and on other stationary phases of different polarity at a given temperature, are related to physicochemical properties of the solutes, such as boiling point and molar refraction, by multiple regression analysis. The equations found permit calculation of the Kováts retention index for all alkanes, with standard deviations close to experimental error. The same equations can also be used for calculating the physicochemical parameters they contain.     

Nonlinear variation of sorption parameters of n-alkane homologsl in temperature-programmed gas chromatography (tpgc) and new equation for calculation of retention indixces

It has been demonstated that the considaerable difference in temperature increments of sorption parameters of n-alkanes under isothermal conditions is the main reason for nonlinear dependence of sorption parameters on molecular mass of homolog in temperaturre programmed gas chromatography (TPGC). A new nonlinear 4th parameter equation has been given for calculation of the retention indices. Coefficients of the equation are calculated from n-alkanes. The equation allows extrapolation and interpolation calculations of retention indices under TPGC conditions with experimental precision. The results obtained; for fatty acidkl methyl esters demonstrate the advantage of ovr equation in comparison with van den Dool and Kratz's equation.