Effect of the nature of the carrier gas on the chromatographic characteristics of monolithic silica capillary columns

Abstract

Chromatographing a model mixture of hydrocarbons with various carrier gases (helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide) was used to study the separation ability of monolithic silica capillary columns. It was revealed that the nature of the carrier gas strongly affects the retention time of the sorbates and the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) of the column, with the values of both these parameters decreasing in the series He > H2 > N2 > CO2 ∼ N2O. This effect was found to be more pronounced for normal hydrocarbons than for their isomers. For chromatographing with CO2 or N2O under optimum conditions, the HETP was 25–30 μm, a value indicative of a higher specific efficiency of monolithic capillary columns. Theoretical correlations between the HETP and the properties of the mobile phase were considered. As a result, it was concluded that elevated pressures of the carrier gas, which are required to ensure the optimum operation of monolithic capillary columns, may affect the properties of the chromatographic system.