Question

What are two factors that a GC column uses to separate compounds?

Answer 1

Hi,

Very good question. Having worked on GC instrument for several years, some of the factors that affect seperations in Gas chromatography include boiling point of a compound, polarity of components to be seperated,column temperature, carrier gas flow rate, column length and amount of material to be separated. These factors are briefly summarized below:

1. Boiling point

The boiling point of a compound is often related to its polarity (see also polarity chapter). The lower the boiling point is, the shorter retention time usually is because the compound will spent more time in the gas phase. That is one of the main reasons why low boiling solvents (i.e., diethyl ether, dichloromethane) are used as solvents to dissolve the sample. The temperature of the column does not have to be above the boiling point because every compound has a non-zero vapor pressure at any given temperature, even solids. That is the reason why we can smell compounds like camphor (0.065 mmHg/25 ^oC), isoborneol (0.0035 mmHg/25 ^oC), naphthalene (0.084 mmHg/25 ^oC), etc. However, their vapor pressures are fairly low compared to liquids (i.e., water (24 mmHg/25 ^oC), ethyl acetate (95 mmHg/25 ^oC), diethyl ether (520 mmHg/25 ^oC)).

2. The polarity of components versus the polarity of stationary phase on column

If the polarity of the stationary phase and compound are similar, the retention time increases because the compound interacts stronger with the stationary phase. As a result, polar compounds have long retention times on polar stationary phases and shorter retention times on non-polar columns using the same temperature. Chiral stationary phases that are based on amino acid derivatives, cyclodextrins and chiral silanes are capable of separating enantiomers because one enantiomer interacts slightly stronger than the other one with the stationary phase, often due to steric effects or other very specific interactions. For instance, a cyclodextrin column is used in the determination of the enantiomeric excess in the chiral epoxidation experiment (Chem 30CL).

3. Column temperature

A excessively high column temperature results in very short retention time but also in a very poor separation because all components mainly stay in the gas phase. However, in order for the separation to occur the components need to be able to interact with the stationary phase. If the compound does not interact with the stationary phase, the retention time will decrease. At the same time, the quality of the separation deteriorates, because the differences in retention times are not as pronounced anymore. The best separations are usually observed for temperature gradients, because the differences in polarity and in boiling points are used here (for examples see the end of the chapter)

4. Carrier gas flow rate

A high flow rate reduces retention times, but a poor separation would be observed as well. Like above, the components have very little time to interact with the stationary phase and are just being pushed through the column.

5. Column length

A longer column generally improves the separation. The trade-off is that the retention time increases proportionally to the column length and a significant peak broadening will be observed as well because of increased longitudinal diffusion inside the column. One has to keep in mind that the gas molecules are not only traveling in one direction but also sideways and backwards. This broadening is inversely proportional to the flow rate. Broadening is also observed because of the finite rate of mass transfer between the phases and because the molecules are taking different paths through the column.

6. Amount of material injected

Ideally, the peaks in the chromatogram display a symmetric shape (Gaussian curve). If too much of the sample is injected, the peaks show a significant tailing, which causes a poorer separation. Most detectors are relatively sensitive and do not need a lot of material in order to produce a detectable signal. Strictly speaking, under standard conditions only 1-2 % of the compound injected into the injection port passes through the column because most GC instruments are operated in split-mode to prevent overloading of the column and the detector. The splitless mode will only be used if the sample is extremely low in concentration in terms of the analyte.

7. Conclusion

High temperatures and high flow rates decrease the retention time, but also deteriorate the quality of the separation.

Hope your query is solved.