MODELING THE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF MULTICOMPONENT SAMPLESON A SYSTEM OF 3 OPEN-TUBULAR COLUMNS COUPLED IN SERIES

A procedure was developed for modelling the gas chromatographic separa tion on a system of columns coupled in series. This procedure can be u sed for computer based optimization of lengths and order of serially c oupled columns at isothermal conditions. The sample component retentio n factors and column resistances needed for the model can easily be me asured on each individual column. The proposed procedure was verified by analyzing a 52 component hydrocarbon mixture on three columns of di fferent polarity coupled in series by various column orders. Good agre ement between experimental and calculated retention data was found. Th e procedure is also well suited for optimization of the chromatographi c selectivity by coupling columns with different selectivity in series .