Characterization of high performance glass capillary gas chromatography

Summary High resolution gas chromatography requires the highest performance characteristics of gas chromatographic systems in terms of sampling and sample handling in strumentation, columns, and data handling. This paoper describes high precision computer measurements for characterizing capillary column efficiencies which are within 75% of the theoretical limit of capillary GC. Particular emphasis is given to detailed peak shape analysis, measurement accuracy and reproducibility, and system stability. Using known instrument performance parameters, it is then possible to characterize column performance with high accuracy in a meaningful manner. It is proposed that wall-coated tubular columns be characterized in terms of their chromatographic performance by the following parameters: Trennzahl (separation number), number of theoretical plates/meter, program temperature beseline stability, acid-base ratio, and the coefficient of skewness for 1-octanol. Statistical moments (m2) and hybrid moments are used to describe capillary column chromatographic performance because they may be related to basic physico-chemical column processes. These measurements are very sensitive parameters for characterizing GC columns. Using an online computer-based data system, the limits of capillary GC are shown to be limited by the sampling and injection steps.