Synthesis and characterization of diphenyl–phenyl polysiloxane as a high-temperature gas chromatography stationary phase

Abstract

A new type of copolymer diphenyl–phenyl polysiloxane (DPPP) was synthesized and coated inside the fused-silica capillary columns, which were used as a novel stationary phase in gas chromatography (GC). The thermal stability, selectivity, polarity, column efficiency, and maximum allowable temperature for these capillary columns were characterized, and the results indicated that the prepared columns exhibited higher column efficiency (3560 plates per m compared to 3630 plates per m). The excellent film-forming capability on the inner surface of fused-silica capillary columns was proved by the analysis of Grob test compounds. The maximum allowable temperature was determined to be 360 °C, which indicated that the copolymer was highly suitable for high-temperature separation. In addition, superior peak shapes were observed when a DPPP column was used to separate a substituted mixture of benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which suggests its great potential for application in GC analyses.