Abstract
A dimethylformamide column (4m.) with activated alumina as the solid support in place of inactive support is capable of effecting complete gas chromatographic analysis of all 13 components usually present in gaseous hydrocarbons (C1 to C4) at room temperature in a short period within 30 minutes. In this adsorption-partition column, the activated alumina for the solid support is calcined (2 hours at 700C) to completely remove water of crystallization and change it to γ-alumina. By the use of γ-alumina as a support, separation of 1-butene and isobutene, and of propylene and isobutane, which are difficult to separate by the usual partition column, has been considerably improved. The stationary liquid of low boiling point, dimethylformamide, is strongly adsorbed on the solid support and life of the column, even when used at room temperature, is quite long. By addition of a small quantity of squalane to dimethylformamide, it becomes possible to completely analyze 15 components, including isopentane and n-pentane, under the same conditions. This kind of adsorption-partition column shortens the time required for complete analysis of gaseous hydrocarbons from 1/3 to 1/5 of the dimethylsulfolane column now being widely used.
