Lipidic ionic liquid stationary phases for the separation of aliphatic hydrocarbons by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

• Lipidic ILs were applied as stationary phases for GC × GC separations.
• Eleven lipidic ILs with various structural features were examined.
• The palmitoleyl lipidic IL exhibited excellent selectivity towards hydrocarbons.
• Lipidic IL with a cyclopropanyl group demonstrated highest thermal stability.
• Retention properties of lipidic ILs were evaluated by solvation parameter model.

Lipidic ionic liquids (ILs) possessing long alkyl chains as well as low melting points have the potential to provide unique selectivity as well as wide operating ranges when used as stationary phases in gas chromatography. In this study, a total of eleven lipidic ILs containing various structural features (i.e., double bonds, linear thioether chains, and cyclopropanyl groups) were examined as stationary phases in comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) for the separation of nonpolar analytes in kerosene. N-alkyl-N′-methyl-imidazolium-based ILs containing different alkyl side chains were used as model structures to investigate the effects of alkyl moieties with different structural features on the selectivities and operating temperature ranges of the IL-based stationary phases. Compared to a homologous series of ILs containing saturated side chains, lipidic ILs exhibit improved selectivity toward the aliphatic hydrocarbons in kerosene. The palmitoleyl IL provided the highest selectivity compared to all other lipidic ILs as well as the commercial SUPELCOWAX 10 column. The linoleyl IL containing two double bonds within the alkyl side chain showed the lowest chromatographic selectivity. The lipidic IL possessing a cyclopropanyl group within the alkyl moiety exhibited the highest thermal stability. The Abraham solvation parameter model was used to evaluate the solvation properties of the lipidic ILs. This study provides the first comprehensive examination into the relation between lipidic IL structure and the resulting solvation characteristics. Furthermore, these results establish a basis for applying lipidic ILs as stationary phases for solute specific separations in GC × GC.