ABSTRACT
High resolution capillary gas chromatography implies the optimization of the plate number, the selectivity and the capacity ratio. In packed column gas chromatography, a large variety of stationary phases has been used. Since selectivity is the most important factor influencing the resolution in gas chromatography, selectivity optimization is a main road to high resolution capillary gas chromatography (CGC). The most spectacular progress in high resolution CGC, however, can be expected by the optimization of the selectivity of the chromatographic system. Columns coated with apolar dimethyl gum phases are considered as the workhorse in CGC. Trifluoropropyl silicone phases have a unique selectivity towards electron pairs on carbonyl- and nitro-groups. A phase containing 50% trifluoropropyl-groups can be coated efficiently and immobilized in capillary columns. An example of stationary phase tuning in CGC is the development of a substitute for the Ucon and Pluronic stationary phases.
