RETENTION INDEXES FOR PROGRAMMED-TEMPERATURE CAPILLARY-COLUMN GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS

In this study the retention index which employs a homologous series of n-alkanes as internal standards was evaluated for use with SE-52 capillary columns, and was found to lack good statistical reliability for the PAH. Therefore, a new retention index was defined based on the series of PAH internal standards: naphthalene, phenanthrene, chrysene, and picene. The retention indices of over 200 PAH were determined using this system. The average 95% confidence limits for four measurements on each PAH are ±0.25 Index unit. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.