Glass Surface Chemistry Via Gas Chromatography

Surface chemistry can be studied by examining the interaction of the surface with specific molecules using gas chromatography (1). Typically, the material to be studied is prepared as a finely divided powder that is packed into a chromatography column. Known compounds with specific properties are chromatographed, and surface properties are deduced from the peak shapes and retention times of these 'molecules probes'. 

We have developed special methods of gas chromatography for surface characterization that are based on the use of capillary chromatography columns (2,3). The methods have adequate sensitivity so that low-surface-area materials such as glasses can be studied directly, rather than indirectly from analogous powdered samples (e.g. fused silica vs. silica gels). Any material can be studied that can be drawn into capillary tubing of ca. 50-500micron i.d.