Multidimensional tandem capillary gas-chromatography system for the analysis of real complex samples. Part I. Development of a fully automated tandem gas chromatography system.

A fully-automated, tandem high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC-HRGC) system is developed for multitransfer operations. The system allows quantitative transfers from the precolumn to the main column without time restriction and makes it possible to perform multiple transfers using different temperature programs for the two GC ovens and columns, which may have different diameters and different stationary phase film thicknesses. When the multidimensional system is not in use, the two GC systems may be used independently without changing the hardware. As an example of the system's efficacy, a chiral separation of some lemon essential oil components is reported.