Evaluation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes as gas chromatographic column packing

Purified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PMWCNTs), activated charcoal and graphitized carbon black (Carbopack B) were used as column packing materials to compare their separation ability and other gas chromatographic behavior for aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, esters, and ethers. The results show that PMWCNTs can be an excellent gas chromatographic packing material. Compared to Carbopack B with the same surface area, PMWCNTs had a stronger retention ability, a more homogenous surface and smaller theoretical plate numbers. Polar compounds can present symmetric peaks on PMWCNTs. PMWCNTs were found to be an interesting alternative adsorbent to activated charcoal and Carbopack B as gas chromatographic column packing material for volatile compounds, especially those with relatively low boiling points.