Carrier gas effects on relative retention and resolution in capillary GLC†

Abstract

It was theoretically and experimentally shown that the nature of carrier gas has an influence on relative retention Rel(P_av) and that the relative retention is linearly dependent on average column pressure P_av under the conditions of conventional capillary gas chromatography (i.e., at carrier gas pressure less than 5 atm). An invariant limiting value of relative retention lim Rel(P_av)=Rel(0) at P_av=0 was suggested as a chromatographic constant of the solute. Exchanging one carrier gas for another has a significant influence on the retention up to variation in elution order. Carrier gas nature and the pressure of the carrier gas are the factors that actively influence the separation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 12: 515–519, 2000