Thermal desorption cold trap-injection in high-resolution gas chromatography: multivariate optimization of experimental conditions.

In studies of low concentrations of volatile compounds in air, the method of adsorption on porous polymers and determination by thermal desorption cold trap-injection high-resolution gas chromatography is finding increasing application. Factors considered important for injection and chromatographic separation of volatile compounds by this method were investigated with the use of multivariate techniques. For the amount injected on to the chromatographic column, the factors of main importance were found to be the temperature of the injection block, the thickness of the internal coating of the cold trap and the flow-rate. Strong interaction effects were noted. For the sharpness of the chromatographic peaks, the flow-rate was the most important factor.