Two Fibers Packed in Capillary Column for Gas Chromatographic Separation

The bare optical fiber of 0.12 mm o.d. has been introduced as the support material in gas chromatography. Two fused-silica fibers coated with polydimethylsiloxane (SE30) were longitudinally packed into a 2 m SE30 capillary column (SE30-CFs-packed SE30-CC), followed by studying chromatographic performances. With 0.012 g/mL SE30 solution coating onto the packed fibers, the efficiency per unit length of SE30-CFs-packed SE30-CC was 1695 plates/m (for the separation of n-hexadecane at 120°С). The retention power and sample loading capacity of this SE30-CFs-packed SE30-CC were improved over a single SE30-coated fused-silica fiber in a SE30-coated capillary annular column (SE30-CF/SE30-CC) as well as a conventional SE30 capillary column (HP-1). The results showed the contribution of the two coated fused-silica fibers to the retentivity and sample loading capacity of the column. With a large injection, SE30-CFs-packed SE30-CC provided better separation for hidden harmful solvents in beta-cypermethrin malathion than SE30-CF/SE30-CC and HP-1 of the same length.