Prediction of the retention indices of methyl pyridines and pyrazines in capillary gas chromatography based on the non-linear additivity of the sorption energy

Summary Methylbenzenes, pyridines and pyrazines were investigated on fused-silica and glass capillary columns coated with SE-30 and PEG-40M/KF liquid phases, at two temperatures, 80° and 110°C. The contribution of the methylene groups to the partial molar free sorption energy was determined for methylpyridines and pyrazines. Equations are proposed for the calculation of the retention indices of methyl pyridines and pyrazines. These equations are based on the ortho- and α-effects of the methyl groups. The predicted indices have been experimentally tested for six dimethyl- and trimethylpyridines, and four methylpyrazines. Good accuracy of the calculation permits to use this method for the identification of methylpyridines and pyrazines in complex mixtures. Enlarged text of the paper presented at the Eighth International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography, Riva del Garda, Italy, May 19–21, 1987.