Inverse gas chromatography study of poly(dimethyl siloxane)—liquid crystal mixtures

Inverse gas chromatography applications: a review

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) is a versatile, powerful, sensitive and relatively fast technique for characterizing the physicochemical properties of materials. Due to its applicability in determining surface properties of solids in any form such as films, fibres and powders of both crystalline and amorphous structures, IGC became a popular technique for surface characterization, used extensively soon after its development. One of the most appealing features of IGC that led to its popularity among analytical scientists in early years was its similarity in principle to analytical gas chromatography (GC). The main aspect which distinguishes IGC experiments from conventional GC is the role of mobile and stationary phases. Contrary to conventional GC, the material under investigation is placed in the chromatographic column and a known probe vapour is used to provide information on the surface. In this review, information concerning the history, instrumentation and applications is discussed. Examples of the many experiments developed for IGC method are selected and described. Materials that have been analysed include polymers, pharmaceuticals, minerals, surfactants, and nanomaterials. The properties that can be determined using the IGC technique include enthalpy and entropy of sorption, surface energy (dispersive and specific components), work of co/adhesion, miscibility and solubility parameters, surface heterogeneity, glass transition temperature, and specific surface area.

IGC studies of binary cationic surfactant mixtures

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) has been used to measure the interaction parameter between two twin-tailed cationic surfactants. Didodecyldimethylammonium (DDAB) and dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODAB) bromides and their mixtures were used as stationary phases. IGC and DSC techniques have been used for the determination of the temperature zone of working. The activity coefficients at infinite dilution (on a mole fraction basis) were calculated for eleven probe solutes on each pure surfactant column. Values of interaction parameter between surfactants obtained at four weight fractions of the mixtures and at five temperatures are positive and suggested that the interactions is more unfavourable with the increment of DODAB concentration in the mixture. The results are interpreted on the basis of partial miscibility between DDAB and DODAB.

Liquid-crystalline stationary phases for gas chromatography

Physico-chemical properties of new liquid-crystalline stationary phases (LCSPs) for gas chromatography are reviewed. The mechanism of chromatographic separation on liquid-crystalline stationary phases is discussed and examples of analyses of complex mixtures of organic compounds using capillary and packed columns are given.