A sample preparation method for gas chromatography using a two-phase, laminar flow extraction PDMS/glass chip has been developed. A stable two-phase laminar interface was obtained by surface modification, and the organic extraction phase and the aqueous sample phase were separated effectively when the two-phase laminar flows exit the chip. Experiments were conducted on the chip to extract ephedrine from aqueous solution. Good reproducibility was obtained over the entire range of ephedrine concentration using the extraction chips (CV range 2.7%-4.5%). Effects of salt and solvent on extraction efficiency were studied.
There had been little progress in development of the theoretical basis of rectangular chromatography columns until Spangler made great progress by using a more exact model than Golay's. Unfortunately, there was a deficiency in his calculations, which led to a conclusion inconsistent with the previous theories. In this paper, a simpler formula with defined variables was first established to calculate the mean permeability coefficient for a rectangular GC column. A formula was also established to calculate the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) for a rectangular column based on this work and the correction of Spangler's theory. By comparing both our predictions and Spangler's predictions with Golay's, respectively, we could demonstrate that our theory is more exact. Further, one parameter (A) was found to be not monotonous. This finding leads to the conclusion that the square column has the highest performance among all the rectangular-shaped columns used for chromatography, and that a width/depth ratio of around three is desirable if the column is used for mixing reactants in lab-on-a-chip systems, instead of for chromatography. The conclusions are applicable not only for gas but also for liquid chromatography columns.
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