A window diagram for key component analysis in on‐line gas chromatography

Abstract

Window diagrams that optimize for the separation of only one or a few components in a complex mixture are applied to on-line process analysis when speed of analysis is more important than a complete separation of all components in the sample. A window diagram based on retention indexes is the most useful for quickly evaluating the feasibility of a given pair of phases. The one with the most useful output is one based on partition ratios, as this can be used directly with the columns in hand. A PC-based spreadsheet program with integral specific retention volume data for the common liquid phases is described as a tool for selecting the optimum ratio of lengths for the columns in hand.

A Strategy for the Simplification and Solution of Complex Chromatographic Analysis Problems Utilizing Two-Dimensional Mapping of Retention Indexes Followed by Computer Modeling of Heart Cuts from Serially Coupled Columns Containing Different Stationary Phases

“…In this procedure the separation factor for the most difficult to separate pair (whose identity may change as the phase mixture is varied) is plotted versus the mole fraction of the phases used for the separation. This tool has been incorporated into the computer program [2,18] and generated the diagrams shown in Figure 3 for the separation of all fifteen components (lower curve) and for the separation of only the key components from each other and the other interferents (upper curve).…”