Application of statistical-overlap theory to gas chromatograms simulated on intermediate-polarity and polar stationary phases

The numbers of peaks in simulated gas chromatograms (GCs) of complex mixtur es of fatty acid methyl esters, flavors, fragrances, Arochlors, polychlorin ated biphenyls, pesticides, phenoxy acids, industrial solvents, volatiles, and drugs agreed with predictions of point-process statistical-overlap theo ry, when the GCs were simulated on the intermediate-polarity and polar stat ionary phases, Rtx-35, -50, -200, -502.2, -1701, -2330, -624, and Stabilwax . The retention times of single-component peaks in the GCs were calculated from Kovats retention indices. In contrast, the retention times of single-c omponent peaks in point-process statistical-overlap theory are described by a random variable. The agreement of the peak numbers adds to a growing bod y of evidence that the intervals between single-component peaks in complex GCs can be described by probability theory. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc .