A standardized method for the calibration of thermodynamic data for the prediction of gas chromatographic retention times

• A new method for normalizing thermodynamic data between columns with varying dimensions.
• Employs the use of simple standards and techniques available to any laboratory.
• Provides accurate estimates for analyte retention between columns.
• Average error in predicted retention across columns was 1.6 s.

A new method for calibrating thermodynamic data to be used in the prediction of analyte retention times is presented. The method allows thermodynamic data collected on one column to be used in making predictions across columns of the same stationary phase but with varying geometries. This calibration is essential as slight variances in the column inner diameter and stationary phase film thickness between columns or as a column ages will adversely affect the accuracy of predictions. The calibration technique uses a Grob standard mixture along with a Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm and a previously developed model of GC retention times based on a three-parameter thermodynamic model to estimate both inner diameter and stationary phase film thickness. The calibration method is highly successful with the predicted retention times for a set of alkanes, ketones and alcohols having an average error of 1.6 s across three columns.