Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with a multi-capillary second dimension: A new column-set format for simultaneous optimum linear velocity operation

•Identical narrow-bore capillary columns successfully assembled in parallel.•Multi-capillary columns provide good efficiency at high volumetric flows.•Multi-capillary columns are interesting second dimensions for GC × GC.•GC × multi-GC is suitable for the multidimensional separation of complex samples.•Possible to operate both dimensions at their optimum linear velocity simultaneously.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) suffers from the impossibility to operate both dimensions at their optimum carrier gas velocity at the same time due to the different inner diameters of the columns typically employed. The use of multiple parallel capillary columns in the second dimension (GC × multi-GC) is studied as a means to achieve simultaneous optimum-velocity operation. A programme written in Microsoft Excel® was developed to calculate the efficiency of the two dimensions in GC × multi-GC for different numbers of columns in the second dimension. With the aid of this programme the appropriate number of columns was selected. Columns with maximum repeatability were specifically manufactured to grand suitable performance, i.e. to avoid band broadening effects caused by inter-column variations. 1D-GC experiments were carried out on the columns separately and combined in parallel. The performance of the parallel column set was consistent with that of the individual columns, with over 9100 plates generated (approximately 10,000 plates/m). A GC × multi-GC set-up was successfully installed. Model experiments proved the possibility to operate both dimensions at their optimum linear velocity simultaneously. The suitability of the novel second dimension column format to perform multidimensional separations was also shown for a number of selected applications.