Comparison of the elution curves of pure components and their mixture and prediction of elution curves by a theoretical plate model in preparative gas-liquid chromatography

Two close-boiling materials, diethyl ether (DEE) and dichloromethane (DCM), were separated to investigate the effects of the pure components and the mixture on elution in preparative gas-liquid chromatography. Nitrogen was used as the carrier gas, and the chromatographic column (1 cm I.D. and 0.75m length) was packed with Chromosorb A with different quantities of dinonyl phthalate stationary phase and particle sizes. Below ca. 7% (by wt.) of feed concentration, the experimental elution curves of pure DEE and DCM were almost the same as those of the mixture, and the theoretical plate model can be used successfully to predict the elution curves.