GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF ISOMERIC BENZENE-DERIVATIVES USING MOLECULAR-SIEVES, COMBINED WITH PARTITION COLUMNS

The possibility of using short gas chromatographic columns packed with different molecular sieves (silicalite and aluminophosphates), showing definite selectivity to para-isomeric compounds, in series with columns containing a liquid stationary phase was investigated. The molecular sieves were of different origin, while 1,2,3-tris (2-cyanoethoxy)propane (TCEP) and polyethylene glycol adipate (PEGA) were used as the liquid stationary phase. Ortho-, meta- and para-isomers of xylene, chlorotoluene and dichlorobenzene were chromatographed on these columns. It is shown that the best separation is obtained on a combined column with silicalite containing pure silica gel as the molecular sieve, and 10 % PEGA as the liquid phase. Molecular sieves of aluminophosphate origin show only weak selectivity toward the para isomers.