• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.329-338
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• 1994

The retention behaviors of natural gas components were studied on a single column by gas chromatography. The dead time, $t_0$ was obtained by using extrapolation of homologous series to determine capacity factors. The plots of retention data for homologous series and carbon number at different temperatures were shown to converge into a single point, which point was determined as a dead time. The results of the effect of temperature on the column efficiency for n-butane exhibited the plate number, N incerased with temperature, but the resolution among the fast eluted components decreased. The adsorption enthalpy (${\Delta}H^0{_{ads}}$) for each component on 28% DC 200 stationary phase was determined, and in order to investigate the retention behaviors of natural gas components the regression analysis of log $t_R$, log k' and log ${\alpha}$ vs. van der Waals volume(Vw), molecular connectivity index(X) and hydrophobic fragmental constant(f) were carred out. Good correlation was found between log k' vs. Vw, and log k' vs. f. The correlations between the physical properties of natural gas and the physical parameters were investigated by the linear regression analysis. The relationships between Vw vs. molecular weight and heating value(${\Delta}H_{comb}$), X vs. boiling point, and f vs. molecular weight, boiling point and heating value exhibited the high correlation coefficient more than 0.99. Using the regression equation between the heating value of natural gas and Vw the predicted heating values from $C_6$ to $C_{10}$ showed good agreement with those reported in the literature within 0.2% relative error.