Current-day employment of the micro-bore open-tubular capillary column in the gas chromatography field

The present contribution is focused on the exploitation of the micro-bore (MB) open-tubular column (ID <= 0.18 mm), in current-day gas chromatography. The vast majority of GC methods involve the use of MB columns, from a variety of one-dimensional techniques (conventional and high speed), to different forms of heart-cutting and comprehensive multidimensional methodologies. Various aspects related to the use of MB open-tubular capillaries will be described and critically discussed, along with a series of pertinent applications. A series of works from the past have also been cited, essentially because many approaches today-applied, derive from the ideas of the past. Obviously, the present contribution does not review the entire history of the micro-bore capillary (more than one book would be necessary); rather, it intends to portray the great contribution that such analytical tools provide in enhancing two fundamental GC features, namely separation power and speed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.