Behavior of n-alkanes on poly(oxyethylene) capillary columns. Evaluation of interfacial effects

The solvation behavior of n-alkanes on poly(oxyethylene) was studied employing capillary gas chromatography. Interfacial effects were discriminated and evaluated through the analysis of retention data from six commercial fused-silica capillary columns, having film thicknesses of 0.15-5 microm. Expressions for the mixed retention mechanism in capillary columns were deduced from assumptions of a general character. Partition coefficients were determined for the n-alkanes up to 28 carbon atoms, at temperatures ranging from 40 to 240 degrees C. In agreement with other authors, it was observed that interfacial phenomena contribute poorly to the chromatographic retention, being negligible over 140 degrees C for homologues with less than 16 carbons.