Thermally sensitive behavior explanation for unusual orthogonality observed in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography comprising a single ionic liquid stationary phase

In this study, a theoretical concept and method to achieve a degree of orthogonality in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) for separation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by using a single ionic liquid (IL) stationary phase (1-phase-GC × GC) were established. The 1-phase system comprises a long IL column and shorter IL column of the same phase before and after the modulation region, operated under temperature-programmed conditions. Initial isothermal experiments employing six commercial IL columns were conducted at different temperatures. On the basis of the temperature-dependent linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) concept, SLB-IL111 exhibited the greatest thermal sensitivity and degree of difference over the tested temperature (T) range, so it was selected for investigation of the 1-phase-GC × GC mode. With the same temperature program, a significantly high degree of orthogonality was observed for the experiment, varied with column lengths. The switchable separation result, which inverts the retention of saturated and unsaturated FAME on the downstream column (2D), was achieved by varying column diameters and surface thicknesses of the IL-coated layers. These results were explained according to the corresponding LSER principles. Also, the time summation model was applied for the simulation of the observed 1-phase-GC × GC results.