Theoretical and experimental study of recycle capillary gas chromatography with carrier gas propelled by a peristaltic pump

A new technique of recycle capillary gas chromatography (RCGC) characterized by a very high separation efficiency of more than 106 theoretical plates has been developed to solve the problem of separation of isomers with similar physico–chemical properties. The technique replaces the recycle valve by a peristaltic pump that propels the carrier gas. A general model has been developed for description of RCGC characteristics and experimentally verified on the retention behaviour of methane and the separation of a test pair of 3-methyl-1-butene and 2-methylbutane.