A novel gas chromatographic stationary phase in a wall-coated open tubular column embodiment was employed successfully for carbon number grouping of up to C10. This unique cross-linked and bonded stationary phase, based on alicyclic polysiloxane chemistry, displays a polarity index even lower than the widely used 100% dimethylpolysiloxane phase. Critical pairs of probe compounds employed in a standard capillary column test mixture, such as 2,4-dimethylphenol/undecane and 2,6-dimethylaniline/naphthalene that are co-eluted on a 100% dimethylpolysiloxane phase, are well separated on this unique stationary phase with an R value greater than 1.5. The stationary phase has a respectable maximum operating temperature of 280 oC and is demonstrated to have a high degree of inertness. The gas chromatographic column is suitable for use in determining heat energy value in fossil fuels like natural gas which is highly critical to industry for energy measurement, natural gas trading, and regulatory compliance. The column technology is suitable for other challenging industrial applications involving ultra-volatile and volatile molecules such as sulfur-containing compounds and oxygenated compounds.
Gras et al. (Wed,) studied this question.