Specific retention volumes in gas chromatography from low-quality capillary columns

Specific retention volumes obtained from capillary columns of very low quality (column efficiencies about 100 theoretical plates/m), with a commercial polycyanopropylmethylsiloxane (50% substitution) as stationary phase, are compared with those obtained from the same type of columns and stationary phase, but exhibiting higher efficiencies. The statistical study shows that low-quality columns are as appropriate for measuring specific retention volumes as the better-quality columns. The same conclusion may be drawn for Kovats' retention indices or McReynolds' constants, if the aim of the study is the characterization of new stationary phases. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.