Crosslinked Poly(ester-acetals) as Polar, Stationary Phases for Gas Chromatography at Subambient-to-Moderate Temperatures

Abstract

Poly(ester-acetals) crosslinked and bonded to silanol groups of an acidic siliceous support provide novel stationary phases for GC. A particularly useful poly(ester-acetal) is one obtained by copolymerizing methyl azelaaldehydate pentaerythritol acetal (a spiro acetal diester), dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate and diethylene glycol. The temperature range for single column application with flame ionization detector is at least −60° to 200°C, where column bleed and baseline drift gradually increase. With dual columns, this packing remains useful to at least 290°C; rapid degradation of the stationary phase begins about 375°C. A variety of compound classes can be separated on this packing, including hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and esters over the temperature range indicated.