GC Columns for High Temperature Applications

High-temperature gas chromatography is used to analyze compounds with boiling points in the 500 to 800 °C range, or any GC analysis with a final temperature between 350 and 450 °C. High-temperature GC columns are engineered to withstand these high temperatures while providing good chromatographic performance.

Traditional fused silica columns are not equipped to handle prolonged exposure to temperatures above 360 °C. At high temperatures, fused silica GC columns may become:

• Become inflexible and brittle
• Require more system downtime for maintenance
• Can’t separate high molecular weight compounds

For applications containing high molecular weight compounds, which require temperatures above  360 °C, a high temperature GC column such as a metal column or specialty treated capillary column is used since they are best suited to resolve these compounds with minimal bleed to provide rugged performance up to 430  °C.