Sol–gel multicapillary columns for gas–solid chromatography

In this work, we report the method for the preparation of multicapillary columns (MCCs) for gas–solid chromatography. The porous layer adsorbent is formed on capillary walls by the hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxide in the presence of polypropylene glycol (PPG) and HCl. Porosity and selectivity of the adsorbent depend on reaction conditions and the concentration of PPG. Sol–gel MCCs are well suited for high-speed chromatographic analysis of light hydrocarbons by gas–solid chromatography. Nine-component mixtures of C1–C4 hydrocarbons are separated within 8–12 s. The efficiency of 25–30 cm long alumina sol–gel MCCs consisting of approximately 1400 capillaries of 40 μm diameter is up to 2500–3000 theoretical plates.