RETENTION CHARACTERISTICS OF A (2,3,6-TRI-O-METHYL)-BETACYCLODEXTRIN COATED CAPILLARY COLUMN

The separation efficiency of a glass capillary column coated with (2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-betacyclodextrin was determined at the temperature and carrier gas flow rate ranges of 105–165° C and 0.5–1.5 ml/min, respectively, using (+) and (-) g-lactones as test compounds. Stepwise regression analysis was employed for the elucidation of the temperature and flow rate on the efficiency of separation. The column separated the enantiomers at each temperature and flow rate proving the excellent separation power of the cyclodextrin coating. The differences of the retention times of isomers and the sum of their peak widths depended on the logarithm and on the reciprocal value of temperature; the effect of flow rate was negligible. The significant impact of the reciprocal value of temperature can be explained by the inclusion complex formation between cyclodextrin and g-lactone isomers.