FLOW-FIELD-INDUCTED TEMPERATURE GRADIENT GAS CHORMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, to a device, and to the use of a method for the gas-chromatic separation and determination of volatile substances in a carrier gas by means of a chromatographic separating capillary (1), wherein the separating capillary and/or an enveloping capillary (2) surrounding the separating capillary (1) is electrically conductive and is heated with current in the form of a resistance heater and is cooled by a forced convective flow by means of a fluid in the form of a gradient flow field in such a way that a continuous temperature gradient arises over the length of the separating capillary.

Claims

1. A method for the gas-chromatic separation and determination of volatile substances in a carrier gas by means of a chromatographic separation capillary (1), and/or a sheath capillary (2) is/are electrically conductive and is/are heated with current in the form of resistance heating and is/are cooled by a forced convective flow by means of a fluid, characterized in that the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) is/are subject to a radial incident flow, and a continuous temperature variation in the form of a gradient along the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) is produced.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the separation capillary (1) is surrounded by the sheath capillary (2).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a continuous temperature variation of the radial speed of flow of the cooling fluid is produced along the separation capillary (1) and/or the sheath capillary (2).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the gradient is produced by continuous widening of a flow channel around the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the gradient is produced by continuous discharge of flow fractions of the cooling fluid radially along the separation capillary (1) and/or the sheath capillary (2) via a partially permeable wall.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the gradient due to radial incident flow of a cooling fluid along the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) is produced by continuously increasing the flow resistance along a helical groove (3) in a hollow body (15).

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the hollow body comprises a porous material (8) which produces a pressure loss.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a ramp-shaped increase in the temperature variation with holding phases is implemented.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the volatile substances are passed into the separation capillary (1), wherein a temperature level at the inlet of the separation capillary (1) is higher than at the outlet.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the substances introduced at the inlet leave the separation capillary (1) in the direction of a detector (4) by virtue of time-controlled raising of the temperature level.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an enrichment of the volatile substances takes place in zones of the separation capillary (1) which are at a temperature level at which said volatile substances are transported slowly or not at all in the carrier gas.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the volatile substances are concentrated along the separation capillary (1) and reach the detector (4) at different times through the temperature level being raised.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the fluid for cooling the separation capillary (1) is pre-cooled to a temperature range of from 0° C. to −196° C., more particularly using nitrogen.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the separation of the volatile substances is accomplished by continuously raising the temperature level.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the separation of the volatile substances is performed for use in drug and doping analysis or in explosives and hazardous materials detection.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the temperature gradient between the inlet and the outlet of the separation capillary (1) is adapted by varying the speeds of flow of the cooling fluid during the ramp-shaped increase in the temperature variation.

17. A device for gas-chromatic separation and determination of volatile substances in a carrier gas, having a resistance-heatable separation capillary (1) and/or a resistance-heatable sheath capillary (2) having a helical groove (3) distributed around the circumference, wherein porous material (8) is arranged within the hollow cylinder (15) in such a way that, by blowing in a fluid radially with respect to the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) from an internal unit for producing a fluid flow, a continuous temperature variation in the form of a gradient along the separation capillary (1) is produced.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the sheath capillary is surrounding the separation capillary (1) in a hollow cylinder (15).

19. The device as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the internal unit for producing a fluid flow comprises a fan or blower (6) and a temperature sensor.

20. The device as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the separation capillary (1) has a diameter in a range of from 0.3 mm to 1 mm over a length of from 100 to 500 cm, and the separation capillary (1) comprises a solid body, in particular a metal or a ceramic.

Description

[0022] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a TGGC in which efficient separation can be achieved with commercially available separation capillaries that can be interchanged easily and do not require any special temperature control fluids but allow dynamic temperature control with a gradient and entail the use of only small amounts of energy for temperature control.

[0023] According to the invention, the object is achieved by means of the features of the characterizing clause of independent claims 1 and 13.

[0024] The invention is based on a thermal balance equilibrium directly at and in the resistance-heated separation column between heat production by the lost electric power and heat dissipation by a forced flow and heat radiation by the capillary column. The temperature gradient is produced by a gradient flow field. The flow to the separation column is at different speeds of flow across the separation column and, in this way, the temperature drop between the inlet and the outlet of the separation column is produced.

[0025] The advantage over the prior art is that there is no need to produce a thermal gradient field around the separation column, which then warms or heats the separation column only indirectly to the desired temperatures.

[0026] On the contrary, the temperature gradient arises as a consequence of the gradually changing thermal balance, thus making it possible to construct a precise and rapidly operating gas chromatography system.

[0027] According to the invention, an electrically (resistance-) heated separation capillary and/or a sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary is used instead of an oven, which is used according to the prior art. It is possible to heat both the electrically heated separation capillary in a controlled manner with a rapid temperature program while the substances to be analyzed are carried through by means of a carrier gas and, in the case where a sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary is used, the actual fused silica separation capillary is guided in such a way in the interior that it can be heated in a controlled manner with a rapid temperature program, while the substances to be analyzed are carried through by means of a carrier gas. According to the invention, the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary is produced from a solid body and can comprise a ceramic, e.g. Si.sub.3N.sub.4. However, it is also possible for the solid body to be composed of metal, in particular stainless steel. It is furthermore also possible to use nickel, nickel alloys or other metals with a suitable resistance as solid bodies. If an electrically conductive separation capillary is used, the use of a separate sheath capillary is superfluous. As a heating method for the separation columns, use is made of resistance heating since it combines the highest heating rates and high energy efficiency (low thermal masses). In the case of the resistance heating systems used to date in the prior art for temperature-programmed gas chromatography, a thermal equilibrium is established through natural convection and the heat transport thus effected. However, it is disadvantageous here that the level of heat transport in the case of natural convection depends on the orientation of the heated capillary in space. A horizontal capillary is cooled more by natural convection than a vertical capillary, which undergoes less heat transport in the upper part due to rising warm air components. Vertically wound capillary loops therefore exhibit nonuniform temperatures.

[0028] Disproportionately greater than heat transport due to natural convection is heat transport due to forced convection. If a heated capillary is subject selectively to a flow the cooling effect and hence the stable equilibrium temperature is heavily dependent on the speed of flow. This opens up the possibility of setting the temperature of a heated capillary within wide limits by selectively varying the incident flow to said capillary. Thus, according to the invention, it is envisaged that the resistance heating of the separation capillary (or of a sheath capillary around the separation column) takes place in a suitable flow field which has a uniform speed of flow gradient along the separation column. For this purpose, a TGGC has a unit for producing air flow, wherein this can be a fan or a blower or, alternatively, a pressurized gas supply with a suitable throttle valve. The fan or blower can be switched on and off by an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit. Alternatively, a pressurized gas supply can be switched on and off by means of a solenoid valve, for example. If expanded control capacity is desired for carrying out the TGGC method, the power of the fan or blower can be electronically controlled in order to deliver a variable volume flow. In corresponding fashion, it is also possible for the pressurized gas supply to deliver a variable volume flow using a control valve.

[0029] In this case, the TGGC comprises a separation capillary which is mounted in a flow field with a speed gradient. The production of the speed gradient can be accomplished in various ways, for which purpose, in particular, widening of a flow channel, continuous discharge of fractions of the flow and a continuous increase in flow resistance (pressure loss) may be mentioned.

[0030] To achieve a continuous temperature field in the form of a gradient, it is possible to use an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit. The unit performs open-loop and closed-loop control of the temperature of the separation capillary or the temperature of the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary by regulating the applied voltage and hence the power loss produced. The actual value for the open-loop and closed-loop control is supplied by a temperature sensor. This can be a thermocouple with a low thermal mass, which is mounted on the capillary by means of a high temperature adhesive. As an alternative, an infrared optical temperature sensor can be used, said sensor measuring the temperature of the capillary without making contact. The electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit furthermore regulates fluid flow for controlled production of the flow gradient around the separation capillary. The electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit has further connections, by means of which external devices, such as sample applicators, thermodesorbers or laboratory robots, can be controlled or control commands can be received from such external devices. After a start command, the electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit performs a measurement cycle divided into phases.

[0031] It is very important to carry out this temperature control homogeneously since otherwise there is disadvantageous retardation of the individual substances. Here, homogeneous is intended to mean that the temperature variation is uniform over the length of the sheath capillary and that no zones with an alternating higher and lower temperature occur.

[0032] The thermal balance for the heated separation capillary subject to an incident flow of a fluid and/or for the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary can be calculated since there is a well-developed theory for this in the scientific/technical literature. The thermal balance comprises the heat energy supplied, the convective dissipation and the radiated heat energy.

Q.sub.Thermoelectric=Q.sub.Convection+Q.sub.Radiation

with individual contributions as follows:

Q.sub.Thermoelectric=U*I=I.sup.2*R=U.sup.2/R

Q.sub.Convection=α.sub.mean*A*(T.sub.Wall−T.sub.∝)

Q.sub.Radiation=α.sub.Boltzmann*(T.sub.Wall.sub.4−T.sub.∝.sub.4)

[0033] The most laborious part of the balance is the calculation of the proportion attributable to convection. The heat transport coefficient is calculated using the tools of similarity theory and the dimensionless parameters defined there.

[0034] A distinction is drawn between free convection and forced convection. Free convection occurs due to density differences which arise during the heating of a fluid around a body, e.g. the convection of air around a heated separation capillary and/or the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary. Forced convection occurs in flows which are driven by way of pressure differences by means of fans or blowers. The flow is much more intense around the heated body and therefore heat dissipation is therefore also greater.

[0035] Calculation is performed using the dimensionless Nusselt number. The Nusselt number expresses the relationship between heat transfer and heat conduction in the fluid, this being additionally associated with a characteristic length. The central concept of similarity theory with its dimensionless parameters is to obtain universally valid calculation equations which can be applied to different dimensions or different physical characteristics.

[0036] The Nusselt number is defined as:

[00001]$\mathrm{Nu}=\frac{{\alpha }_m*L}{{\lambda }_{\mathrm{Fluid}}}$

where [0037] α.sub.m: mean heat transfer coefficient [W/(m.sup.2*K)] [0038] λ.sub.Fluid: heat transfer coefficient of the fluid [W/(m*K)] [0039] L: characteristic length, here diameter d [m]

[0040] In order to calculate the Nusselt number, the Grashof, Prandtl and Rayleigh numbers are required in the case of free convection. For forced convection, the Reynolds number and the Prandtl number are used. It is typical of this type of calculation that use is made of parameters that establish further physically characteristic relationships. Moreover, the Grashof number expresses a dimensionless relationship between the lift forces due to density differences in the fluid and gravitational acceleration in the case of free convection.

[00002]$\mathrm{Gr}=\frac{L^3*g*{\beta }_{\propto }*\left(T_{\mathrm{Wall}}-T_{\mathrm{Fluid}}\right)}{v_{\mathrm{Fluid}}}$

where:

[0041] β∝: thermal expansion coefficient at T.sub.Fluid[1/K]

[00003]${\beta }_{\propto }=\frac{1}{T_{\mathrm{Fluid}}}$

in the case of ideal gases [0042] ν.sub.m: kinematic viscosity at T.sub.m[m.sup.2/s] [0043] g: gravitational acceleration [m/s.sup.2]

[0044] The Prandtl number links flow variables with heat conduction variables in the fluid.

[00004]$\mathrm{Pr}=\frac{{\eta }_{\mathrm{Fluid}}*c_p}{{\lambda }_{\mathrm{Fluid}}}$

where: [0045] c.sub.p: specific isobaric heat capacity [J/(kg*K)] [0046] η.sub.m: dynamic viscosity at T.sub.m[kg/(m*s)]

[0047] For temperatures between 0 and 500° C., the Prandti number for air is between 0.71 and 0.72 and can therefore be assumed to be constant. In the calculation formulae, the Rayleigh number is often used as the product of the Grashof and Prandtl numbers.

Ra=Gr*Pr

[0048] In the case of heat transfer of a horizontal cylinder (capillary) with natural convection, the following calculation relation is given for the Nusselt number:

[00005]${\mathrm{Nu}}_m={\left\{0.60+\frac{0.387*{\mathrm{Ra}}^{1/6}}{{\left[1+{\left(0.559/\mathrm{Pr}\right)}^{9/16}\right]}^{8/27}}\right\}}^2$

[0049] Here, the characteristic length is the diameter of the capillary. For forced convection, the following is given for the Nusselt number:

[00006]${\mathrm{Nu}}_m=c\times {\mathrm{Re}}^m\times {{\mathrm{Pr}}^n\left(\frac{\mathrm{Pr}}{{\mathrm{Pr}}_0}\right)}^p$

[0050] With the factor and the exponents as a function of the Reynolds number.sup.1:

TABLE-US-00001 Re c m n 1 to 40 0.76 0.4 0.37 40 to 1000 0.52 0.5 0.37 1000 to 2*10.sup.5 0.26 0.6 0.37 2*10.sup.5 to 10.sup.7 0.023 0.8 0.4 Heating of the fluid: p = 0.25 Cooling of the fluid: p = 0.20 .sup.1Baehr, Hans Dieter; Stephan, Karl (2006): Wärme- und Stoffübertragung [Heat and Substance Transfer], 5.sup.th, revised edition, Berlin [inter alia]: Springer

[0051] The Reynolds number is calculated as follows:

[00007]$\mathrm{Re}=\frac{w_{\propto }\times d_{\mathrm{Cylinder}}}{v_{T_m}}$ [0052] w.sub.∝: speed of flow at a long distance from the cylinder [m/s] [0053] d.sub.cylinder: characteristic length, here diameter [m] [0054] ν.sub.m: kinematic viscosity at

[00008]$T_m\left[m^2.Math.\text{/}.Math.s\right]$

[0055] In the equation for the Reynolds number, w (infinite) is the speed of flow at a long distance from a cylindrical body, e.g. a heated separation capillary and/or a sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary, d is the diameter of the cylindrical body (capillary) and ν.sub.m is the viscosity at the mean temperature.

[0056] Pr.sub.0 is the Prandtl number at wall temperature. Since the Prandtl number in the case of air is in a range of between 0 and 300° C. at 0.71, the last factor of the equation is approximately equal to 1 and the penultimate factor is constant at 0.7.sup.037 in a wide range of Reynolds numbers. For calculation, the substance values λ.sub.m and ν.sub.m (and possibly also η.sub.m) must be calculated. With these values, there is a high dependence on temperature. The calculations are therefore designed for use with a mean temperature between the (high) wall temperature and the (lower) fluid temperature at a relatively long distance:

[00009]$T_m=\frac{T_{\mathrm{Wall}}+T_{\propto }}{2}$

[0057] In the range between 0 and 500° C., the following equations obtained by regression using absolute temperature values in the unit Kelvin,

[0058] Thermal Conductivity:

β=−6.0054*10.sup.−4+1.0732*10.sup.−4*T−7.0019*10.sup.−8*T.sup.2+3.2779*10.sup.−11*T.sup.3 [W/(m.sup.2K]

Kinematic Viscosity:

[0059]
ν=−1.9058*10.sup.−6+2.17926*10.sup.−8*T+1.36208*10.sup.−10*T2−3.25327*10.sup.−14*T3 [m.sup.2/s]

[0060] To make the above statements more specific, the following calculations for the temperature variations with forced convection and different speeds of flow are shown:

[0061] For comparison, the equilibrium temperatures calculated for natural convection are calculated and also shown for the same heat outputs.

TABLE-US-00002 Calculation for forced convection, 1 mm diameter capillary Temperature Temperature of the of the capillary capillary T ° C. T ° C. Speed of for Differential for Differential flow epsilon = 1, temperature epsilon = 0, temperature v m/s P = 51.29 T ° C. at P = 33.39 T ° C. at Air at 20° C. W/m v = 0.1 m/s W/m v = 0.1 m/s 0.1 300.0 300.0 0.2 262.4 37.6 234.1 65.9 0.3 239.5 60.5 202.8 97.2 0.4 223.3 76.7 183.5 116.5 0.5 210.9 89.1 169.8 130.2 0.6 201.0 99.0 161.7 138.3 0.7 192.8 107.2 151.4 148.6 0.8 185.8 114.2 144.7 155.3 0.9 179.8 120.2 139.1 160.9 1 174.5 125.5 134.3 165.7 2 142.5 157.5 107.0 193.0 3 126.2 173.8 94.2 205.8 4 115.7 184.3 86.2 213.8 5 108.2 191.8 80.6 219.4 Calculation for natural convection for for epsilon = 1, epsilon = 0, P = 51.29 P = 33.39 Air at 20° C. W/m W/m 320.0 331.1

[0062] In FIG. 8, there is a depiction of the calculations of the temperatures in the case of forced convection with and without a radiation component (epsilon equal to 1 or 0), wherein the heated capillary has a diameter of 1 mm and there is an incident flow of air at 20° C. with variable speeds of flow.

[0063] The gas-chromatographic measurement of volatile substances by means of the method according to the invention and by means of the device according to the invention is described below by way of example: [0064] 1. In the initial position, power and temperature control and volume flow control are switched off. However, the temperatures of the transfer lines from the applicator unit and to the detector are controlled (typically in the region of about 200° C.). The transfer ovens for connection of the uncoated transfer lines to the separation capillary are also at the required high temperature (typically 300-350° C.). [0065] 2. In response to a control command, temperature control is activated and a lower temperature control value for the separation capillary and/or for the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary is/are set. In parallel with this, fluid flow control is set to a fixed fluid flow. A typical lower temperature value in this phase is 40° C. at the outlet of the separation capillary, wherein the outlet should be taken to be the region of transition to the detector. [0066] 3. A control command starts measurement with the TGGC. The sample to be analyzed or the volatile substances to be tested are then carried into the separation capillary by a carrier gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrogen or air. [0067] 4. After injection of the substances to be analyzed, a waiting time to be specified is executed by the electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit. In this waiting time, solvent fractions from the sample application, for example, can be flushed out of the separation capillary. This waiting time is typically in the region of a few seconds. [0068] 5. After this waiting time, the controlled raising of the temperature of the separation capillary and/or of the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary begins. Time intervals in the region of a few seconds to the single-digit minute range are targeted. During the raising process, the substances to be analyzed are transported through the separation capillary by means of the carrier gas and by means of the gradient. The setpoint of the temperature control process can be measured at the beginning or at the end of the separation column, depending on the intended chromatographic measurement method. A typical embodiment comprises the ramp-shaped raising of the temperature with a particular rate of rise per time unit, e.g. in the range of from 5 to 60° C./s. Thus the temperature range of 300° C. (e.g. 40° C. to 340° C.) is traversed in between 5 and 60 s. Depending on the substances to be analyzed, the ramp-shaped increase can also be implemented in several stages at different rates of rise. Intermediate holding phases are also possible. During the process of raising the temperature of the separation capillary and/or of the sheath capillary surrounding the separation capillary, the temperature gradient over the length of the separation capillary is produced by the continuous gradient of the flow field. The fluid flow can remain constant during the raising phase but can also be raised or lowered. The level of the fluid flow affects the level of the gradient, i.e. the differential temperature between the inlet and the outlet of the separation capillary, i.e. the locations of injection and detection. [0069] 6. After the upper control value for temperature control has been reached, there follows a measurement phase, in which this temperature is regulated to a constant level. At the same time, the fluid flow is adjusted downward or switched off. Owing to the reduction or elimination of the flow gradient around the separation capillary, the temperatures between the inlet and the outlet of the separation capillary balance out. The conditions of natural convection with the associated equilibrium temperatures then prevail there. The electronic temperature control system holds the temperature constant at the actual-value measurement location by controlling the power of the heating current. If the actual-value measurement location is at the outlet of the separation capillary (low temperature during flow), there is a decrease in the inlet temperature to the level of the outlet temperature in this phase. If the actual-value measurement location is at the inlet of the separation capillary, the temperature at the outlet will rise to the level at the inlet. According to the invention, the inlet is taken to be the region where the volatile substances to be analyzed are injected. Raising the outlet temperature means that even substances of low volatility are transported out of the separation capillary. [0070] 7. After the end of this measurement phase, the temperature can be held constant in a further phase in order to continue flushing out contaminants. [0071] 8. In a final phase, the unit for producing an air flow, e.g. a fan or a blower, is set to maximum values. The heating power for the separation capillary is switched off. There is therefore a very rapid decrease in the temperature to the values required at the beginning of a new measurement process.

[0072] The invention is explained once again in greater detail by means of the following figures:

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a TGGC. It can be seen that the TGGC is bounded by a base (14), by a cover (9) and by lateral wall surfaces of a hollow cylinder (15). Milled into the wall of the hollow cylinder (15) is a helical groove (3), in which a separation capillary (1) and/or a sheath capillary (2) surrounding the separation capillary (1) can be arranged. If the hollow cylinder (15) has a diameter of 20 cm, for example, the separation capillary (1) and/or the sheath capillary (2) surrounding the separation capillary (1) can have a groove length or separation capillary length of 60 cm per turn. Mounted in the cover (9) is a fan or a blower (6), by means of which a fluid, e.g. air, is blown into the interior of the hollow cylinder (15). To stabilize the flow downstream of the fan or blower (6), a flow stabilizer (7) is fitted. The injected air can escape from the groove (3) and leads to an air flow in the groove (3). In order to reduce this air flow uniformly from the top downward, a porous material (8) is introduced into the hollow cylinder (15) or the TGGC. According to the invention, an open-cell filter foam can be used as a porous material (8), wherein the use, mentioned by way of example, of open-cell filter foam is not intended to represent a restriction to a particular type of material. All other possible materials which allow controllable pressure reduction can be used, e.g. polyurethanes, silicates or aramids. In this way, a uniform and continuous flow variation from the top downward is achieved, in particular in the downward slope of the groove (3). Uncoated transfer lines (11, 11′) can furthermore be seen in the region of the sample applicator (5) or of the injection location and in the region of the detector (4), said lines being connected in heated transfer ovens (10, 10′) to the separation capillary, via which the volatile substances to be analyzed enter the TGGC and are identified after measurement at the outlet by means of the detector (4). Auxiliary heating arrangements (12, 12′) for the transfer lines ensure retardation-free transport of the substances to be analyzed. The separation capillary (1) and/or the sheath capillary (2) surrounding the separation capillary (1) are held at defined angular spacings on the inner walls of the TGGC by a thin-walled holding plate (13), in the center of which there is a guide hole or a guide groove.

[0074] The flow is hardly reduced by these very thin holding plates (13), being reduced only directly in the holding plates (13) and in the directly adjoining boundary layer. The absence of flow or the reduced flow leads to an increase in the temperature only in a very small region since the cooling effect of the flow is absent or reduced. This slight local temperature increase is not disruptive for the TGGC since the substances pass through this region quickly and are then once again subject to the gradient profile. A holding plate consisting of a compound with a low thermal conductivity, e.g. high-temperature polymers or ceramics, is preferably selected.

[0075] The substances to be analyzed come from a sample feeder (5). The sample feeder (5) can be a gas-chromatographic injector, a thermodesorption unit or some other collecting and application system. The detector (4) is connected to the cold end of the separation capillary (1) via the transfer line (11). Any gas-chromatographic detector, such as FID, ECD, PID, WLD and even mass spectrometers, such as a quadrupole mass spectrometer or TOF mass spectrometer, can be used as a detector (4). Gas sensors or gas sensor arrays can also be operated with the pre-separation in the TGGC.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section through a TGGC. It shows the hollow cylinder (15) into which a separation capillary (1) is inserted by means of a helical groove (3). By means of holding plates (13), which are arranged over the entire circumference of the hollow cylinder (15), the separation capillary (1) is secured in the helical groove (3) of the hollow cylinder (15) of the TGGC. There is porous, pressure-reducing material (8) in the interior of the cylindrically configured TGGC in order to ensure a continuous flow gradient. The transfer ovens (10 and 10′) are furthermore situated in the inlet and outlet regions of the separation capillary (1).

[0077] In a vertical section, FIG. 3 shows a TGGC with continuous flow discharge via a partially permeable wall surface (16), e.g. a permeable fabric or a wire mesh. By means of a unit for producing a fluid flow, e.g. a fan or a blower (6), a fluid, e.g. air, is introduced laterally into the base (14) of the TGGC. Via the base (14), the fluid passes via an annular groove (17) in the base (14), into the jacket region between the fixed wall of a hollow cylinder (1) and a wall surface (16) that is partially permeable for the fluid. The separation capillary (1) and/or the sheath capillary (2) surrounding the separation capillary (15) are held at defined angular spacings on the wall of the hollow cylinder (15) of the TGGC by thin-walled holding plates (13), in the center of which there is a guide hole or a guide groove. The separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) is/are directed helically from the bottom up in the jacket region between the hollow cylinder (15) and the partially permeable wall surface (16). Some of the fluid is discharged to the environment via the partially permeable wall surface (16) or jacket surface on the path of the flow from the bottom up, with the result that the fluid flow decreases continuously from the bottom up due to the discharge of the fluid. As a result, a flow field with a speed of flow that decreases from the bottom up is established. The thermal balance equilibrium at the heated separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) therefore likewise shifts continuously, with the result that the temperature is lower at the bottom where the flow is greater than at the top, where the flow is less. Moreover, the TGGC has transfer ovens (10, 10′) in the inlet and outlet regions, in which ovens transfer lines (11, 11′) are connected to the separation capillary, and heating and insulation elements (12, 12′) to control the temperature of the transfer lines. A sample applicator (5) or injection location can furthermore be seen in the inlet region of the TGGC, and a detector (4) can be seen in the outlet region of the TGGC.

[0078] FIG. 4 shows a vertical section through a TGGC with a continuous increase in the flow cross section. In contrast to FIG. 3, the lateral wall surfaces (18 and 19) are both impermeable and formed obliquely to the flow direction. Wall surface (18) is the wall of a conical part standing in the interior of the arrangement. Wall surface (19) is the inner wall of a larger conical part situated on the outside, which has a smaller circumference at the bottom than at the top. In addition to geometrically conical embodiment of the wall surfaces (18, 19), different geometries with nonlinear profile shapes are possible. In addition to the oblique wall surfaces (18 and 19), the TGGC in this embodiment has a support structure (20) for the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2), which guides the separation capillary (1) and/or sheath capillary (2) in the central region of the conical the expanding flow channel. The support structure (20) can consist of thin rods with the holding plates (13) mounted thereon, which are arranged in the center of the flow channel. Owing to the expansion of the flow cross section, the speed of flow decreases in accordance with the law of continuity. The heated separation capillary arranged therein is therefore subject to a flow with a speed of flow that decreases continuously from the bottom up. The thermal balance equilibrium therefore leads to low temperatures at the bottom and to high temperatures at the top, which act in the form of a continuous gradient over the entire separation capillary.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows a linear temperature profile of a TGGC without additional cooling media. The measurements indicate a linear temperature profile for the temperature variation in the separation capillary at different electric powers and with a constant flow field. There can also be deviations from the linear profile.

[0080] FIG. 6 shows the separation of substances in a mixture of C8 to C15 alkanes. During measurement, the temperature profile was raised quickly after injection. The focusing effect is evident particularly in the case of the longer-chain alkanes, which emerge at higher temperatures and therefore are subject to a somewhat steeper gradient and hence better focusing.

[0081] Finally, FIG. 7 demonstrates the enrichment effect with double injection of the mixture. An alkane mixture was injected at intervals of about 20 seconds. Normally, two series of signals then occur in succession. In the first part, the measurement was carried out at low temperature and here the occurrence of the double signals of the first and second injection is clearly apparent. The signal widths increase from C8 and C9 to C10 since the later components are already subject to longer running times with a higher diffusion. The less volatile substances from C11 upward collect on the separation column and do not emerge during the low temperatures of the isothermal phase. After the second signal of the C10 component, the temperature profile was raised quickly by raising the heating voltage. The following substances from C12 upward have already been focused at the same locations of the separation column and appear as narrow high signals. In gradient separations, the signal width is significantly reduced by the focusing effect.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0082] 1 separation capillary [0083] 2 sheath capillary [0084] 3 groove [0085] 4 detector [0086] 5 sample feed [0087] 6 fan/blower [0088] 7 flow stabilizer [0089] 8 material [0090] 9 cover [0091] 10, 10′ transfer ovens [0092] 11, 11′ transfer lines [0093] 12, 12′ auxiliary heating arrangements [0094] 13 holding plate [0095] 14 base [0096] 15 hollow cylinder [0097] 16 partially permeable wall surface [0098] 17 annular groove [0099] 18 wall surface (conical on the inside) [0100] 19 wall surface (conical on the outside) [0101] 20 support structure