Formerly, also short columns with broader diameters have been used, but nowadays
they are more or less completely replaced by the capillary technique. The typical
dimensions of a capillary column cover a length between 10 and 60 m and a diameter
between 0.1 and 1.0 μm. Capillary columns consist of glass coated by a polyimide
film. This polymer film makes the column flexible and prevents a breaking of the
glass. This technical feature allows to wind the long column on carriers with
carrier gas
column
injector
detector
oven
Fig. 4.1 Principal composition of a gas chromatograph
Inner diameter: 0.1 – 0.53 mm
Film thickness: 0.1 – 0.5 μm
fused silica capillary
staƟonary phase - film
polyimide coaƟng
length: 10 – 60 m
Fig. 4.2 Dimension and structure of a typical capillary GC column
40
4 Instrumental Analysis
they are more or less completely replaced by the capillary technique. The typical
dimensions of a capillary column cover a length between 10 and 60 m and a diameter
between 0.1 and 1.0 μm. Capillary columns consist of glass coated by a polyimide
film. This polymer film makes the column flexible and prevents a breaking of the
glass. This technical feature allows to wind the long column on carriers with
carrier gas
column
injector
detector
oven
Fig. 4.1 Principal composition of a gas chromatograph
Inner diameter: 0.1 – 0.53 mm
Film thickness: 0.1 – 0.5 μm
fused silica capillary
staƟonary phase - film
polyimide coaƟng
length: 10 – 60 m
Fig. 4.2 Dimension and structure of a typical capillary GC column
40
4 Instrumental Analysis