Column Selection for Gas and Light Hydrocarbon Analysis by Packed Column GC
Souhrn
Significance of the Topic
The selection of packed columns for gas and light hydrocarbon analysis by gas chromatography underpins reliable separations of permanent gases, light hydrocarbons and sulfur species in environmental, industrial and research applications. By matching specific adsorbent packings and column dimensions to target analytes, analysts achieve high resolution, peak symmetry and reproducible retention, critical for quality control, trace monitoring and fundamental studies.
Objectives and Overview of the Article
This review compiles chromatograms for 56 analytes, arranged alphabetically, to demonstrate separations obtainable on diverse packed column systems. It guides column packing selection through:
- Identification of target gas components.
- Reference to chromatogram examples illustrating optimal separations.
- Linking chromatograms to packing types and column formats for straightforward ordering.
Methodology and Instrumentation Used
Analyses employed packed‐column gas chromatographs configured with various stainless steel, glass or Teflon® columns (lengths 2 m to 36’, diameters 0.085”–1/4” OD or 2–6 mm ID). Adsorbents included molecular sieves (5A, 13X), porous polymers (Porapak®, HayeSep®, Spherosil®), polar coatings (Carbowax®, polyfluoroethers, sulfolanes) and activated alumina variants. Typical carrier gases (He, N₂) and detectors (thermal conductivity or flame ionization) enabled detection of permanent gases, hydrocarbons and polar impurities. Custom columns were specified by manufacturer, dimensions, support treatment and stationary phase load. Stock glass columns accelerated delivery when coupled with pre‐qualified packings.
Key Findings and Discussion
The compiled chromatograms reveal:
- Separation quality varies with packing chemistry: polar coatings excel for light oxygenates and sulfur compounds, while molecular sieves resolve permanent gases.
- Column dimensions influence resolution and analysis time: longer, narrower columns improve peak separation but extend runtimes.
- Modern packings (Carboxen™, HayeSep®) offer enhanced peak symmetry and lower bleed compared to older materials.
- Custom column flexibility allows tailoring to specific analytical challenges in C₂–C₆ hydrocarbon mixtures and trace sulfur analysis.
Benefits and Practical Applications
By selecting appropriate packed columns, laboratories can:
- Optimize resolution for complex gas mixtures in environmental air monitoring, workplace safety, and petrochemical quality control.
- Reduce method development time by referencing validated chromatogram–packing pairs.
- Leverage stocked glass columns and standard packings for rapid deployment in routine analyses.
- Maintain compatibility with existing GC hardware by offering a wide range of tubing materials and dimensions.
Future Trends and Potential Uses
Advances in porous polymers and carbon molecular sieves continue to improve gas adsorption selectivity and thermal stability. Emerging directions include:
- Micropacked and capillary PLOT columns combining high efficiency with low sample capacity for trace-level detection.
- Integration of multidimensional separations (GC×GC) using complementary packed and capillary phases.
- Development of tailored sorbents for ultra-trace detection of volatile organic compounds in field and on-line monitoring.
Conclusion
This comprehensive guide demonstrates the strategic pairing of packed columns and GC conditions to achieve robust separations of permanent gases and light hydrocarbons. By following the chromatogram‐based packing selection workflow, analysts streamline method development, ensure reproducibility and harness newer materials for improved performance.
Reference
- Bulletin 722: Analyses of Sulfur Gases at Trace and Low Percent Levels Using Packed Column GC
- Bulletin 743: Separation of Hydrocarbons by Packed Column GC
- Bulletin 769: Monitoring Airborne Contaminants in Workplace Atmospheres Using Sampling Devices and GC/HPLC
- Bulletin 802: SP-1700 GC Column Provides Reproducible Hydrocarbon Analyses
- Bulletin 815: Separating Unsaturated C₄ and C₅ Hydrocarbons
- Bulletin 850: Simultaneously Monitor Saturated and Unsaturated C₂–C₆ Hydrocarbons in Air Samples
- Application Note 10: Efficient Analyses of Permanent Gases, Light Hydrocarbons, and Polar Compounds by GC
- Publication 97982: HayeSep® Porous Polymers for Gas Analysis
- Bulletin 890: Packed Column Application Guide
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SUPELCO
Bulletin 786
1
Bulletin 786E
Column Selection for Gas and Light Hydrocarbon
Analysis by Packed Column GC
This bulletin is a reprint of a review article published in the
Journal of Chromatographic Science in September, 1978.
The article presents chromatograms for various combina-
tions of 56 sample gases, illustrating separations which can
be obtained by using selected packed columns. The chro-
matograms show the quality of separation, the packing,
and the conditions used for the analysis. A list of current
Supelco publications offers information about additional,
newer materials that offer improved separations or peak
symmetry for some of these analyses.
Key Words:
●
permanent gases ● light hydrocarbons
●
light sulfur compounds ● packed column GC
The major part of this bulletin is a reprint of a review article, The
Analysis of Gases and Light Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography,
which was published in the Journal of Chromatographic Science in
September, 1978. The article presents chromatograms for vari-
ous combinations of 56 sample gases, illustrating separations
which can be obtained by using selected packed columns. The
56 analytes are listed in alphabetical order on page 1 of the
review article, accompanied by the number of the chromato-
gram or chromatograms showing the separation. The chromato-
gram shows the quality of separation, the packing, and the
conditions used for the analysis. To select a packing for your
application:
1 Locate on page 1 of the review article the gas or gases you
want to analyze.
2 Refer to the chromatogram(s) listed for the analyte(s).
3 Locate the required packing and/or column in the alphabeti-
cal listing of column packings and columns which follows.
This table presents the information required to order the
required packings and columns.
Because we often get inquiries about these packings, we
continue to make this bulletin available. Some of the packings
listed in the review article are no longer available, however,
and some can be replaced by newer materials that offer
improvements in separations or peak symmetry. Consult the
list of current Supelco publications on the back page of this
bulletin for information about our most recently-developed
packings and columns.
Listing of Column Packings and Columns
The table that follows is an alphabetical listing of the columns
and packings used to produce the chromatograms in the review
article. For easy reference, each entry includes reference to the
chromatogram(s) produced by the column. Entries accompa-
nied by a catalog number currently are in stock at Supelco;
ordering by this number provides faster delivery to you. If the
packing you need does not have a catalog number, but is
available as a custom product, simply order it by the description
in the table.
To order a column for your instrument, refer to the back page of
this publication. Please note that we have in stock empty glass
columns for almost any packed column chromatograph cur-
rently in use. These stock columns are listed in our catalog. If you
do not already have a copy of our most recent catalog, free
copies are available upon request.
Chromatogram
Number
Packing / Packed Column
Catalog No.
1
activated alumina, Fe(OH)
2 treated, 80/100
not available
20% bis(2-methoxyethyl)adipate on 60/80 Chromosorb® P AW, 20g bottle
custom
16
20% bis(2-methoxyethyl)adipate on 60/80 Chromosorb P AW
in 24' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Carbopack™ B/2% Carbowax® 20M/0.5% H
3PO4, 60/80, 15g bottle
custom
46
Carbopack B/2% Carbowax 20M/0.5% H
3PO4, 60/80
in 4' x 1/8" Teflon® (FEP) column
custom
Carbopack B/0.3% glycerol/0.3% H
3PO4, 60/80, 15g bottle
custom
Carbopack B/0.3% glycerol/0.3% H
3PO4, 60/80
37
in 2m x 1/4" (4mm ID) stainless steel column5
custom
40
in 2m x 2mm ID4 glass column1
custom
Carbopack B/10% H
3PO4, 60/80, 15g bottle
custom
Footnotes listed on page 3.
T100786E
©1995 Sigma-Aldrich Co.
SUPELCO
Bulletin 786
2
Chromatogram
Number
Packing / Packed Column
Catalog No.
25
Carbopack B/10% H
3PO4, 60/80 in 2m x 1/8" (3mm) OD Teflon (FEP) column
custom
26
Carbopack B HT/20% polyfluoroether/20% benzophenone, 60/80
not available
Carbopack B/1% SP™-1000, 60/80,6 15g bottle
11815
29
Carbopack B/1% SP-1000, 60/806 in 6' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Carbopack B/2% TEPA, 60/80, 15g bottle
custom
53
Carbopack B/2% TEPA, 60/80 in 2m x 2mm ID4 glass column1
custom
Carbopack B/1.5% XE-60/1% H
3PO4, 60/80,
7 15g bottle
11828
45
Carbopack B/1.5% XE-60/1% H
3PO4, 60/80
7 in 6' x 2mm ID glass column
custom
Carbopack C/0.2% Carbowax 1500, 60/80, 15g bottle
11826
24, 32
Carbopack C/0.2% Carbowax 1500, 60/80 in 6' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Carbopack C HT, 60/80, 10g bottle
10259
31
Carbopack C HT, 80/100 in 2m x 1/8" (2mm) stainless steel column5
custom
Carbopack C/0.19% picric acid, 80/100, 15g bottle
11824
18
Carbopack C/0.19% picric acid, 80/100 in 2m x 1/8" stainless steel column
13867
11
Carbosieve™ B, 60/80
not available*
43
Carbosieve B, 80/100
not available*
6, 38, 55, 61
Carbosieve S, 60/80
not available*
62
30% Carbowax 20M on Chromosorb 101, 80/100
not available
Chromosil 310, 60/806 (available only in packed columns)
28
in 3' x 1/8" Teflon (FEP) column
custom
39
in 6' x1/8" Teflon (FEP) column
11501
35
in 8' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
27
in 10' x 1/8" Teflon (FEP) column
custom
34
in 15' x 1/4" stainless steel column
custom
47
Chromosil 330, 80/100 (available only in packed columns) in 6' x 1/8" Teflon (FEP) column
11496
Chromosorb 102, 60/80, 50g bottle
20200-U
Chromosorb 102, 60/80
23
in 6' x 2mm ID4 glass column
custom
8
in 12' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Chromosorb 102, 80/100, 50g bottle
20201
Chromosorb 102, 80/100
5
in 12' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
3
in 15' x 1‘/8" stainless steel column
custom
58
in 20' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Chromosorb 103, 80/100, 50g bottle
20217
52
Chromosorb 103, 80/100 in 6' x 2mm ID4 glass column
custom
Chromosorb 105, 80/100, 50g bottle
custom
44
Chromosorb 105, 80/100 in 2.5' x 1/8" Teflon (FEP) column
custom
20% DC-200 on 100/120 Chromosorb W AW-DMCS, 20g bottle
custom
33
20% DC-200 on 100/120 Chromosorb W AW-DMCS in 6' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
30% DC-200 (500 centistokes) on 60/80 Chromosorb P AW, 20g bottle
custom
22
30% DC-200 (500 centistokes) on 60/80 Chromosorb P AW
Price
in 32.5' x 1/8" stainless steel column
on Request
51
5% 2,4-Dimethylsulfolane on 100/120 Chromosorb W AW2
custom
15, 19
Durapak® n-Octane on 100/120 Porasil® C
not available
12
Durapak phenyl isocyanate on 80/100 Porasil C in 6' x 1/8" column
custom
15% EDO-1 on 60/80 Chromosorb P AW, 20g bottle
custom
21
15% EDO-1 on 60/80 Chromosorb P AW in 20' x 3/16" stainless steel column
custom
Molecular Sieve 5A, 45/60, 50g bottle
20301
Molecular Sieve 5A, 45/60
4A
in 3' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
57
in 6' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
2
in 16' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
7
in 5m x 1/8" (3.18mm) stainless steel column5
custom
36
Molecular Sieve 5A, (Linde type), 45/60
not available
Molecular Sieve 13X, 45/60, 50g bottle
20304
Footnotes listed on page 3.
SUPELCO
Bulletin 786
3
Chromatogram
Number
Packing / Packed Column
Catalog No.
4B
Molecular Sieve 13X, 45/60 in 6' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
17% ß,ß’-oxydipropionitrile on 100/120 activated alumina, 20g bottle
custom
17
17% ß,ß’-oxydipropionitrile on 100/120 activated alumina in 1/16" stainless steel column
not available
Porapak® N, 80/100, 75cc bottle
20325
14
Porapak N, 80/100 in 4' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Porapak R, 50/80, 75cc bottle
20333
Porapak R, 50/80
20
in 3m x 1/8" (2.3mm) stainless steel column5
custom
10
in 8' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Porapak R, 80/100, 75cc bottle
20334
59
Porapak R, 80/100 in 1.2m x 1/4" (6mm) stainless steel column
custom
Porapak R, 100/120, 75cc bottle
20335
60
Porapak R, 100/120 in 6' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
Porapak Q, 50/80, 75cc bottle
20330
Porapak Q, 50/80
10
in 8' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
9
in 12' x 1/4" stainless steel column
custom
Porapak Q, 80/100, 75cc bottle
20331
37
Porapak Q, 80/100 in 2m x 1/8" (4mm) stainless steel column5
custom
50
Porapak QS (acetone washed), 80/1008 (available only in packed columns)
in 30" x 1/8" Teflon (FEP) column (18" of column is packed)
12255-U
Porasil B, 80/100, 75cc bottle
20311
13
Porasil B, 100/150 in 8' x 1/8" stainless steel column
custom
49
12% Polyphenyl ether (5 ring)/0.5% H
3PO4 on 40/60 Chromosorb T
(available only in packed columns)
in 36' x 0.085" OD Teflon (FEP) column
11500
5%
QF-1 on 80/100 Porapak QS, 20g bottle
custom
42, 28
5% QF-1 on 80/100 Porapak QS in 6' x 1/8" (3mm OD) stainless steel column
custom
56
10% SF®-96 on 30/40 Fluoropak 80
not available
30
Spherosil® XOB-075, 70/170
not available
15% UCON®-50-HB-280X on 40/60 Chromosorb T, 20g bottle
custom
41
15% UCON-50-HB-280X on 40/60 Chromosorb T in 6' x 1/8" Teflon (FEP) column
custom
10% Versamid® 900/8% KOH on 80/100 Porapak Q,3 20g bottle
custom
54
10% Versamid 900/8% KOH on 80/100 Porapak Q3 in 2m x 1/4" OD copper column
custom
12mm ID glass column substituted for 3mm ID glass column.
2Chromosorb W AW substituted for Inerton.
3Porapak Q substituted for Phasepak Q, which is not commercially available.
4Both 2mm and 4mm ID glass columns are 1/4" OD.
5Outside diameters of stainless steel columns are listed in inches. Where a chromatogram gives OD in metric units, we have converted the value to inches.
660/80 mesh Chromosil 310 and Carbopack B/1% SP-1000 have been substituted for 80/100 mesh materials (80/100 materials not available).
7In the review article, the packing for chromatogram is incorrectly listed as containing 1% XE-60 and 1.5% H
3PO4. The description should be 1.5% XE-60/1% H3PO4
The packing listed in the table (Cat. No. 1-1828) is the correct packing for chromatogram 45.
8Supelpak™ S is our equivalent.
*For a replacement packing, refer to the list of current literature on the back page of this bulletin.
SUPELCO
Bulletin 786
4
BULLETIN 786
The Definitive Guide to Packed Column GC
Custom Columns
When ordering a custom column refer to our catalog, or call our
sales department. Information we will need to prepare your
column is: instrument manufacturer and model number, column
length and diameter, tubing material, stationary phase and %
coating, and support name, mesh, and treatment. Before you
order your column, be sure to check our catalog. Glass columns
for many instruments are available as stocked items, either empty
or packed. You save time and money when you buy stocked
items. If you select a stocked glass column, simply indicate the
catalog number of the empty glass column and the catalog
number or description of the packing to be used.
Current Literature on Packed Column Analyses
of Gases
The following publications describe analyses on packings/col-
umns developed since 1978, or give much additional informa-
tion not presented in the review article. These publications are
free on request.
Bulletin 722 – Analyses of Sulfur Gases at Trace and Low Percent
Levels, Using Packed Column GC
Bulletin 743 – Separation of Hydrocarbons by Packed Column GC
Bulletin 769 – Monitoring Airborne Contaminants in Workplace
Atmospheres, Using Sampling Devices and GC or HPLC
Bulletin 802 – SP-1700 GC Column Provides Reproducible
Hydrocarbon Analyses
Bulletin 815 – Separating Unsaturated C4 and C5 Hydrocarbons
Bulletin 850 – Simultaneously Monitor Saturated and Unsaturated
C2-C6 Hydrocarbons in Air Samples
Application Note 10 – Efficient Analyses of Permanent Gases, Light
Hydrocarbons, and Light Polar Compounds by GSC
(Describes Carboxen™-1000, a replacement packing
material for Carbosieve packings)
Publication 97982 – HayeSep Porous Polymers
(HayeSep® polymers are modern, efficient replacements
for many of the packings listed in this bulletin)
In addition to these publications, our general catalog is an
excellent source of information about packed column GC.
Included in our current catalog are micropacked columns (1/16"
OD x 0.75mm ID) packed with Carboxen, HayeSep, Molecular
Sieve 5A, and other packings for gas analyses. Also described are
carbon layer open tubular (CLOT), support-coated open tubular
(SCOT) and porous layer open tubular (PLOT) capillary columns,
many of which are well suited to analyses of light hydrocarbons
and other gases.
Packed Column
Application
Guide
895-0005
Our Packed Column Application Guide (Bulletin 890) contains 96
pages of applications incorporating packed column GC: environ-
mental analyses, foods and beverages, clinical applications, and
others. Some of these chromatograms have not yet appeared in
any other Supelco literature. Like our other literature, the guide
is free on request.
Trademarks
Carbopack, Carbosieve Carboxen, SP, Supelpak – Supelco, Inc.
Carbowax, UCON – Union Carbide Corporation
Chromosorb – Manville Corp.
Durapak, Porapak, Porasil – Waters Associates, Inc.
HayeSep – Hayes Separations, Inc.
SF – General Electric Co.
Spherosil – Prolabo
Teflon – E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc.
Versamid – General Mills Chemicals, Inc.
For more information, or current prices, contact your nearest Supelco subsidiary listed below. To obtain further contact information, visit our website (www.sigma-aldrich.com), see the Supelco catalog, or contact
Supelco, Bellefonte, PA 16823-0048 USA.
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Supelco is a member of the Sigma-Aldrich family. Supelco products are sold through Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. Sigma-Aldrich warrants that its products conform to the information contained in this and other
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