Pressure Tuning of Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

This thesis describes the development of pressure tuning as part of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (PT-GCxGC) method, to modify analyte retention properties in one of the dimensions of GCxGC; this tunes the overall separation. Instrumental aspects are comprehensively interpreted, combined with mass spectrometry operation. The effect of pressure tuning on chromatographic parameters is investigated. This innovative mode of operation of GCxGC provides a new concept for the separation of volatile chemical species, with fine adjustment and optimisation of separation power. The thesis addresses modelling and prediction, to highlight the opportunities for rapid method development of practical analysis problems using PT-GCxGC.