Chromatographic significance

The technique of column switching can increase the versatility of the liquid chromatograph significantly. Examples of the use of column switching will be given in the chapter on applications but, as the technique employs valves similar to those used for sample injection the... 

TABLE 3.3 Conversion Table of Column Packing Particles of Chromatographic Significance... 

Accuracy The accuracy of a gas chromatographic method varies substantially from sample to sample. For routine samples, accuracies of 1-5% are common. For analytes present at very low concentration levels, for samples with complex matrices, or for samples requiring significant processing before analysis, accuracy may be substantially poorer. In the analysis for trihalomethanes described in Method 12.1, for example, determinate errors as large as +25% are possible. ... 

Precision The precision of a gas chromatographic analysis includes contributions from sampling, sample preparation, and the instrument. The relative standard deviation due to the gas chromatographic portion of the analysis is typically 1-5%, although it can be significantly higher. The principal limitations to precision are detector noise and the reproducibility of injection volumes. In quantitative work, the use of an internal standard compensates for any variability in injection volumes. 

Acrolein is produced according to the specifications in Table 3. Acetaldehyde and acetone are the principal carbonyl impurities in freshly distilled acrolein. Acrolein dimer accumulates at 0.50% in 30 days at 25°C. Analysis by two gas chromatographic methods with thermal conductivity detectors can determine all significant impurities in acrolein. The analysis with Porapak Q, 175—300 p.m (50—80 mesh), programmed from 60 to 250°C at 10°C/min, does not separate acetone, propionaldehyde, and propylene oxide from acrolein. These separations are made with 20% Tergitol E-35 on 250—350 p.m (45—60 mesh) Chromosorb W, kept at 40°C until acrolein elutes and then programmed rapidly to 190°C to elute the remaining components. 

Chromatographic methods including thin-layer, hplc, and gc methods have been developed. In addition to developments ia the types of columns and eluents for hplc appHcations, a significant amount of work has been done ia the kiads of detectioa methods for the vitamin. These detectioa methods iaclude direct detectioa by uv, fluoresceace after post-column reduction of the quiaone to the hydroquinone, and electrochemical detection. Quantitative gc methods have been developed for the vitamin but have found limited appHcations. However, gc methods coupled with highly sensitive detection methods such as gc/ms do represent a powerful analytical tool (20). 

Purity. Gas chromatographic analysis is performed utilizing a wide-bore capillary column (DB-1, 60 m x 0.32 mm ID x 1.0 //m film) and a flame ionization detector in an instmment such as a Hewlett-Packard 5890 gas chromatograph. A caUbration standard is used to determine response factors for all significant impurities, and external standard calculation techniques are used to estimate the impurity concentrations. AHyl chloride purity is deterrnined by difference. 

Gas chromatographic analysis of the crude mixture (SE-30 on Chromosorb W, 1 m., 150°) showed the presence of some low-boiling materials (including unreacted methyl nitroacetate) and a significant amount of the doubly alkylated by-product, trimethyl 2-nitro-l,2,3-propanetricarboxylate. 

Scott and Kucera [4] carried out some experiments that were designed to confirm that the two types of solute/stationary phase interaction, sorption and displacement, did, in fact, occur in chromatographic systems. They dispersed about 10 g of silica gel in a solvent mixture made up of 0.35 %w/v of ethyl acetate in n-heptane. It is seen from the adsorption isotherms shown in Figure 8 that at an ethyl acetate concentration of 0.35%w/v more than 95% of the first layer of ethyl acetate has been formed on the silica gel. In addition, at this solvent composition, very little of the second layer was formed. Consequently, this concentration was chosen to ensure that if significant amounts of ethyl acetate were displaced by the solute, it would be derived from the first layer on the silica and not the less strongly held second layer. 

The apparatus employed for any given analysis will have operating specifications that are unique to the particular instrument that is selected or that is available. These specifications have been determined by the design and method of manufacture of the instrument and can differ significantly from one chromatograph to another. Some will control and limit the ultimate performance achieved by any column with which the instrument is used. However, it is likely that, as a result of careful design by the manufacturer, the important instrument characteristics affecting column... 

Unfortunately, some of the data that are required to calculate the specifications and operating conditions of the optimum column involve instrument specifications which are often not available from the instrument manufacturer. In particular, the total dispersion of the detector and its internal connecting tubes is rarely given. In a similar manner, a value for the dispersion that takes place in a sample valve is rarely provided by the manufactures. The valve, as discussed in a previous chapter, can make a significant contribution to the extra-column dispersion of the chromatographic system, which, as has also been shown, will determine the magnitude of the column radius. Sadly, it is often left to the analyst to experimentally determine these data. 

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