L'indice de rétention des alcanes isomères en chromatographie en phase gazeuse

A method, using the radiolysis of an alkane, for the obtention of a great number of branched hydrocarbons is given. The retention index at 100° as well as its variation with temperature is determined on Apiezon L for 200 alcanes containing between seven and twenty four carbons. It is shown that for branched hydrocarbons the decrease of the retention index is mainly due to the length of the substituent group but also to its position on the chain. Some rules between retention index and molecular structure are deduced that allow the determination of the index of higher branched hydrocarbons. It is also shown that the variation of the retention index with temperature is only a function of the length of the substituent group.