Gas chromatographic analysis of essential oils with preliminary partition of components

The efficiency of using combinations of retention indices and partition coe fficients (K-p) with a hexane: acetonitrile system has been demonstrated by taking as an example the essential oil from Artemisia pallens Wall. Prelim inary partition of the components between the two partly mixing liquids pro vides information by which components can be attributed to the appropriate homologous series. The use of group constants (j), which are functions of b oth partition coefficients and GC retention indices, in the practice of ide ntifying the components of essential oils is reported for the first time. C opyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.