4736

ISU researchers have developed an improved stationary phase for performing gas chromatography on carboxylic acids, glycols and alcohols.

Gas chromatography is the most common method of separating and quantifying carboxylic acids, including free fatty acids, but due to properties such as polarity, involatility, and thermal instability, the resolution of the chromatography results is often of poor quality.  Conventional methods to increase the resolution involve using polar stationary phases and require derivatization of the carboxylic acids, which frequently leads to incomplete conversion, multiple by-products, and the introduction of side reactions.  Ionic liquids have been introduced as the stationary phases of gas chromatography, but typically have narrow working ranges due to high melting points.  To overcome these drawbacks, Iowa State University researchers have developed novel stationary phases for high resolution gas chromatography.  These columns, which utilizes zwitterionic ionic liquids, do not require derivatization of carboxylic acid analytes and provide selectivity based on chain length, number of unsaturated units, and location or geometries of the double bonds.  In addition, the stationary phases used in this method have a wide working range with high thermal stabilities.

• High resolution of chromatography results

• Does not require derivatization of carboxylic acids

• Wide working range

• High thermal stability

Gas chromatography of carboxylic acids, glycols, alcohols.