Volatile halogenated hydrocarbons C3 – C6 - Separation of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons on a fused silica capillary column

Significance of the Topic

Volatile halogenated hydrocarbons are common environmental pollutants and industrial solvents. Accurate, fast, and reproducible separation of these compounds is essential for environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, and quality control in chemical manufacturing.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note describes the development of a gas chromatographic method using an Agilent CP-Sil 5 CB fused silica capillary column to separate 24 C3–C6 volatile halogenated hydrocarbons within 35 minutes. The goal was to achieve baseline resolution and reliable quantitation suitable for routine environmental analysis.

Methodology

The separation was performed on a GC-capillary system equipped with an Agilent CP-Sil 5 CB column (0.32 mm × 50 m, 1.2 µm film). The temperature program started at 40 °C (15 min hold), ramped at 10 °C/min to 70 °C (6 min hold), then continued at 10 °C/min to a final 110 °C. Hydrogen served as the carrier gas at 55 kPa (approximately 30 cm/s linear velocity). A split injection (25 mL/min) introduced 0.5 µL of sample at 250 °C. Detection was carried out by a flame ionization detector (FID) set at 250 °C with a sensitivity of 4 × 10^–12 Afs.

Used Instrumentation

• Gas chromatograph with capillary inlet and FID detector
• Agilent CP-Sil 5 CB capillary column (0.32 mm × 50 m, 1.2 µm film; Part no. CP7770)
• Hydrogen carrier gas supply with pressure regulator
• Split injector module
• Data acquisition and analysis software

Main Results and Discussion

The optimized GC method achieved baseline separation of all 24 analytes—including allyl chloride, n-propyl chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, various dichloropropenes, trichloropropanes, and chlorinated hexadienes—in under 35 minutes. The low-polarity CP-Sil 5 CB stationary phase provided excellent selectivity for halogenated compounds, yielding sharp, symmetric peaks and minimizing coelution challenges.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid analysis cycle improves laboratory throughput
• High resolution of structurally similar halogenated species enhances quantification accuracy
• Robust reproducibility supports regulatory and QA/QC workflows
• Hydrogen carrier gas reduces operational costs compared to helium

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging column chemistries and advanced detectors—such as micro-electron capture detectors and GC-MS/MS—are expected to further lower detection limits and improve selectivity. Integration with automated headspace and thermal desorption sampling will facilitate high-throughput analysis and near real-time monitoring of volatile halogenated compounds in air and water.

Conclusion

The described GC method using the Agilent CP-Sil 5 CB column delivers a fast, reliable solution for separating a broad range of C3–C6 volatile halogenated hydrocarbons. Its reproducibility and resolution make it well suited for environmental monitoring and industrial QA/QC applications.

References

Agilent Technologies, Inc. Volatile Halogenated Hydrocarbons C3–C6: Separation on a Fused Silica Capillary Column. Application Note A00066, October 31, 2011.