Reproducibility of Programmed-Temperature Retention Indices under Average Linear Velocity Carrier Gas Control of GC and GC–MS

Abstract

Programmed-temperature retention indices (PTRIs) are useful for the identification and quantification of chemicals by means of GC and GC/MS. To obtain reproducible PTRIs, we studied the influence of average linear velocity and column length under the constant average linear velocity control (CVC) using 55 pesticides and 33 fatty acid methyl esters. The PTRIs decreased with increasing average linear velocity, and the degree of decrease differs with the compounds. The PTRIs, however, were almost constant as long as the same average linear velocity was used even if the column length was changed. In addition, the correlation between the variation ratio in PTRI and the increase in average linear velocity was linear. Using the linear relationship between PTRIs and average linear velocities under CVC, highly reproducible PTRIs were obtained even if the capillary column length changes. Furthermore, the PTRIs determined by GC with FID, ECD, and FPD under atmospheric pressure were applied to GC/MS under vacuum or vice versa. From these results, it was confirmed that because CVC provides reproducible retention indices, CVC is advantageous for qualitative and quantitative analysis by GC and GC/MS.