Abstract: | In this study, the cold split-splitless injector recently introduced by Carlo Erba was optimized for the trace analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Injections of hundreds of microliters of hexane solutions were performed in the solvent split mode using an autosampler programmed for large volume injection. Injection parameters such as type of insert, initial oven temperature, split time, and flow are shown to play important roles in defining the conditions for obtaining quantitative results. The loss of early eluting compounds can be minimized by achieving a solvent trapping effect, making use of n-octane as co-solvent in n-hexane. |