Method for testing retention gaps and data on the gas chromatographic retention power of differently deactivated capillary tubes

Abstract

A testing procedure is described that allows the rapid determination of (a) the retention power in an uncoated pre-column used as a retention gap and (b) adsorption effects in such capillary tubes, and which is also of interest for checking for contamination of the retention gap by non-volatile sample by-products. Data on the retention power of uncoated capillaries deactivated by silylation and using Carbowax are presented, providing some interesting information on the deactivation procedures commonly used for column preparation. In particular, it was found that silylation forming trimethylsilyl or dimethylphenylsilyl groups yields very different surface properties.