Optimization via liquid phase mixtures in capillary gas chromatography

The use of sequentially coupled columns to achieve a binary liquid phase mixture has been simplified by the availability of zero dead volume fittings compatible with fused silica columns. The extent to which the velocity gradient through the coupled column affects the “apparent” liquid phase ratio can be determined by graphic interpolation; the length ratio of the coupled column segments can then be adjusted so that the “apparent” liquid phase ratio actually experienced by the solutes agrees with the targeted value. The fact that the direction of flow through the coupled column affects the chromatographic dispersion suggests that accepted generalizations on flow optimization throughout the column may not be precisely correct.