title: Development and features of hydro-membrane gas chromatography.
abstract: Hydro-membrane gas chromatography (HMGC) is achieved by the annular condensation of water in a capillary column at less than 70 degrees C. The annular membrane of water is formed as a result of the wettability of the stationary phase, which is induced at a water contact angle ranging from 75 degrees to 79 degrees, as derived from a solubility parameter (delta) range of 15.7 +/- 0.3 MPa(1/2) of the coated resin. The range of the liquid to gas volume ratio (beta) required to support the annular membrane should be kept between 0.00005 and 0.0003. In the case of a 0.25-mm i.d. column, the ratio can be set by the combination of a 0.1 to 0.2 microl min(-1) water supply rate and helium gas flow rate. Separation by HMGC develops not only a gas-solid partition but also a focusing effect on the water membrane. One feature of HMGC is that it gives a non-adsorption chromatogram based on the blocking effect of pre-adsorbed water; furthermore, despite the presence of a relatively large quantity of water, the electron impact ionization efficiency is kept the same as in the usual GC/MS condition. The detection limit with the injection of 1 microl of aquatic solution was estimated to be less than 0.1 ppb of low-molecular-weight fatty acids with s/n = 5 on a mass chromatogram at m/z 45. The HMGC/EI-MS system can be applied to the trace analysis of C1 to C3 volatile acids, volatile inorganic acids, and halogenated organic acids in water.
authors.affiliation: Corporate Research & Development Toyo Seikan Group, 22-4 Okazawa, Hodogaya, Yokohama, Japan. miwako_tanikawa@toyo-seikan.co.jp
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosono
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013500:Surface Tension; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D012833:Siloxanes; D014867:Water