PARALLEL COLUMN GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A parallel column gas chromatography (PCGC) methodology that simultane ously collects retention information on multiple stationary phases is presented. The multidimensional PCGC configuration links a precolumn i n series with a set of parallel analytical columns (having different s tationary phases) all connected to a single detector. GC peaks heartcu t from the precolumn are detected as a series of peaks due to retentio n differences on parallel columns. This provides a GC retention patter n that is characteristic of the analyte, the stationary phase array, a nd the conditions of the analysis. PCGC peak patterns observed for gro ups of C8, C9, and C10 compounds are presented. The use of PCGC with i nfrared and mass spectral detectors is reported. A methodology to acco unt for changes in GC operating parameters using relative retentions o f analytes to internal standards is presented. The first use of thermo dynamic retention parameters to model retention behavior on parallel a nalytical columns under different temperature profiles is presented. R etention predictions within 0.3-0.6% of experimental values are report ed. These results indicate that PCGC has potential as a general qualit ative analysis tool. Future efforts to calibrate retention predictions , to transport PCGC results between instruments, and to optimize the n umber of parallel columns are proposed. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, In c.