Memory effects with the on-column interface for on-line coupled high performance liquid chromatography-gas chromatography: The Y-interface

When using the on-column interface for on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-gas chromatography (GC), there is a memory effect typically equivalent to 0.5–3% of the previous transfer. The shape of peaks distorted as a result of incomplete reconcentration of the initial bands enabled mapping of the distribution of the solute material in the uncoated precolumn and deriving the mechanism which causes the memory effect. The relatively slow transfer of HPLC eluent causes liquid being sucked backwards into the narrow interspace between the transfer line and the precolumn wall. Solvent is evaporated into the passing carrier gas and is replaced by more eluent pulled into this zone, resulting in enrichment of solute material. At the end of the transfer, some of this solute material enters the transfer line and remains there up to the subsequent transfer of an HPLC fraction. This problem is avoided by replacing the on-column injector used as interface by a Y-piece in which the eluent flow from HPLC and the carrier gas are joined. The memory effect was reduced to below 0.02%.