T. P. Popova

Macroporous polymeric monoliths as stationary phases in gas adsorption chromatography

The influence of the conditions of preparation of divinylbenzene-based polymer monoliths on the properties of monolithic capillary columns for use in gas adsorption chromatography was examined. It was found that the polymerization time and the temperature and composition of the polymerization mixture have an effect on the dynamic and chromatographic properties of the columns. The monolithic capillary columns prepared under the optimal synthesis conditions had the height equivalent of a theoretical plate at the level of 20–30 μm, which is an order of magnitude below that of conventional open tubular columns.

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

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.

The Influence of the Natures of the Carrier Gas and the Stationary Phase on the Separating Properties of Monolithic Capillary Columns in Gas Adsorption Chromatography

A model mixture of light hydrocarbons was used to study the separation capacity of monolithic capillary columns based on divinylbenzene with five different carrier gases, including helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. The results were correlated with the previously obtained data on monolithic columns based on silica gel. It was shown that the influence of the nature of the carrier gas was weaker than for silica gel columns; the polymeric columns studied behaved similarly to hollow capillary columns with polymeric stationary phases and exhibited an efficiency gain of 20–30% along the series He < H2 < N2 ∼ N2O < CO2. Based on the minimum HETP (∼15 μm) obtained for the investigated monolithic columns under optimum conditions with N2O or CO2 as a carrier gas, the conclusion was drawn that the creation of divinylbenzene-based monolithic capillary columns with a high specific efficiency was possible.

Enthalpy–entropy compensation effect on adsorption of light hydrocarbons on monolithic stationary phases

Enthalpy and entropy of adsorption of light hydrocarbons C1-C4 have been measured for three monoliths of different polarity and for five different carrier gases: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and dinitrogen oxide. Using carrier gas helium the highest values of enthalpy and entropy were observed for monolith based on ethylenedimethacrylate and the lowest values were observed for monolith based on silica, while monolith based on divinylbenzene demonstrated intermediate values. Entropy-enthalpy correlations were observed with carrier gas helium for all thee monoliths and possess similar slope indicating similar adsorption mechanism on all monoliths studied. Comparing different carrier gases entropy-enthalpy correlations within a homological series of solutes were observed for light carrier gases (He, H2 and N2) and were not observed for heavy carrier gases (CO2 and N2O). Instead, entropy-enthalpy correlations for heavy carrier gases were observed with pressure as variable and the higher the carrier gas pressure the lower the values of enthalpy and entropy observed. The observed changes in entropy-enthalpy correlations were explained by competitive adsorption of heavy carrier gas on monoliths.

Fast separation of light hydrocarbons by gas chromatography on monolithic capillary columns based on silica gel

Monolithic capillary columns based on silica gel were tested in the course of high-speed gas-chromatographic separations of a five-component mixture of C1–C4 hydrocarbons. It was found that short-length monolithic columns could be used because of their high specific efficiency; this allowed us to shorten the column dead time and the duration of analysis. The column performance of about 1000 theoretical plates per second was reached. The test sorbate mixture was completely separated on a 58.5-cm column with an efficiency of about 18 700 theoretical plates in a time shorter than 17 s. It was noted that CO2 and N2O should be predominantly used as carrier gases.

Thermodynamic parameters of the sorption of light hydrocarbons on monolithic capillary columns in gas chromatography

A silica monolithic capillary column was used to measure the differential enthalpy and entropy of sorption of light hydrocarbons eluted with four different carrier gases. It was demonstrated that a linear correlation between the enthalpy and entropy of sorption (compensation effect) is also typical of monolithic capillary columns, with the slope of this correlation being strongly dependent on the nature of the carrier gas. The largest slope was observed for the helium carrier gas, while for carbon dioxide it is close to zero, and, in addition, the entropy of sorption is virtually independent of the number of carbon atoms in the sorbate molecule.

Permeability, porosity, and structure of monolithic capillary columns in gas chromatography

The permeability of monolithic silica gel capillary columns with respect to the helium carrier gas was studied using gas chromatography. The results obtained by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography were found to be in close agreement. The permeability of monolithic capillary columns was compared to that of hollow capillary columns and columns packed with finely dispersed sorbents. It was demonstrated that the permeability of the monolithic capillary columns studied is almost three orders of magnitude lower than that of hollow capillary columns of the same diameter but two orders of magnitude higher than that of columns packed with micron-scale particles. The interstitial fraction of the monolithic columns was found to be very high, 0.95.

Loading capacities of monolithic capillary columns in gas chromatography

The loading capacities of monolithic capillary columns based on silica gel and divinylbenzene are studied for two carrier gases, CO2 and N2. It is shown that the efficiency of the column is more sensitive to the overload of the column than the retention time of the sorbate is, especially for the CO2 carrier gas. It is established that the loading capacity of a monolithic column based on silica gel decreases significantly in going from N2 to CO2. For columns based on divinylbenzene, the loading capacity is found to be virtually the same for both carrier gases. For monolithic columns, the loading capacity per one meter of column length is found to be 10 and more times higher than that for a standard open capillary column.

Polar monolithic capillary columns: Analysis of light hydrocarbons

The influence of the nature of the stationary phase and carrier gas (helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or nitrous oxide) on the efficiency and separating ability of monolithic ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) polymer capillary columns was studied using a model mixture of light hydrocarbons C1-C4. The results were compared with the properties of silica gel and divinylbenzene (DVB) monolithic columns. For EDMA polymer monolithic columns, the effect of the carrier gas on the separating ability was markedly lower than for silica gel columns. A reduction in HETP observed in the series He > H2 > N2 > N2O > CO2 is also known for hollow capillary columns with polymer stationary phases, but the change in efficiency was ∼20–30% in this case. Under the optimum conditions, HETP was minimum for the columns when CO2 or N2O was used.

Kinetic efficiency of polar monolithic capillary columns in high-pressure gas chromatography☆

Poppe plots were used for analysis of kinetic efficiency of monolithic sorbents synthesized in quartz capillaries for utilization in high-pressure gas chromatography. Values of theoretical plate time and maximum number of theoretical plates occurred to depend significantly on synthetic parameters such as relative amount of monomer in the initial polymerization mixture, temperature and polymerization time. Poppe plots let one to find synthesis conditions suitable either for high-speed separations or for maximal efficiency. It is shown that construction of kinetic Poppe curves using potential Van Deemter data demands compressibility of mobile phase to be taken into consideration in the case of gas chromatography. Model mixture of light hydrocarbons C1 to C4 was then used for investigation of influence of carrier gas nature on kinetic efficiency of polymeric monolithic columns. Minimal values of theoretical plate times were found for CO2 and N2O carrier gases.