Kinetic efficiency of polar monolithic capillary columns in high-pressure gas chromatography

• Polar monolithic columns are synthesized in quartz capillaries.
• Kinetic efficiency of monolithic columns is tested using experimental Poppe plots.
• Construction procedure of Poppe plots using Van Deemter data is proposed for HPGC mode.
• Influence of carrier gas nature on kinetic efficiency of monoliths is evaluated.

Poppe plots were used for analysis of kinetic efficiency of monolithic sorbents synthesized in quartz capillaries for utilization in high-pressure gas chromatography. Values of theoretical plate time and maximum number of theoretical plates occurred to depend significantly on synthetic parameters such as relative amount of monomer in the initial polymerization mixture, temperature and polymerization time. Poppe plots let one to find synthesis conditions suitable either for high-speed separations or for maximal efficiency. It is shown that construction of kinetic Poppe curves using potential Van Deemter data demands compressibility of mobile phase to be taken into consideration in the case of gas chromatography. Model mixture of light hydrocarbons C1 to C4 was then used for investigation of influence of carrier gas nature on kinetic efficiency of polymeric monolithic columns. Minimal values of theoretical plate times were found for CO2 and N2O carrier gases.