Analysis of complex mixtures of vapors in ambient air by fast-gas chromatography

The use of Fast-GC was investigated for the separation and analysis of mixtures of organic vapors in ambient air. Mixtures of up to 34 components were separated and total analysis times ranged from 8 to 100 seconds. Analyses were performed using both flame ionization and electron capture detectors. Up to 950 effective theoretical plates per second were produced when the flame ionization detector was used, and up to 300 per second when the electron capture detector was used. Theoretical predictions of optimal analysis conditions and of column performance matched experimental results.