Sharp Peak Shape

Linear Response

Great Sensitivity

Small Sample Size

Selectivity Options

Applications

Watercol™ Capillary GC ColumnsConvenient Measurement of Water

sigma-aldrich.com/watercol

Watercol™ Capillary GC Columns

Watercol™ capillary GC columns contain innovative ionic liquid stationary phases that produce a sharp peak shape for water, allowing the convenient measurement of water by GC.

SuitabilityNarrow peak widths and optimal peak heights are also produced for many other small polar analytes. Watercol columns are suitable for applications where:

• Water is an analyte: can be integrated and quantified

• Water is the injection solvent: because it does not tail, it does not interfere chromatographically with other analytes

Watercol™ Checklist

Sharp Peak Shape: Water can be integrated and quantified – see Figure 1 (page 3) and Figure 3 (page 4).✓

Linear Response: r2 value of 0.9923 achieved from a 5-point calibration curve – see Figure 2 (page 3).✓

Great Sensitivity: 100 ppm using TCD. Anticipate that much better sensitivity can be achieved with other modes of detection, such as with:

• A mass spectrometer (MS) run in SIM mode

• Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectroscopy

• A barrier discharge ionization detector (BID)

✓

Small Sample Size: GC results can be obtained using small sample sizes, such as <2 mL gasoline (see page 6) and <0.2 g ibuprofen (see page 7).✓

Selectivity Options: Whether water is an analyte or the injection solvent – see Figure 3 (page 4) and Figure 4 (page 5).✓

3Order: 800-325-3010 (U.S.) 814-359-3441 (Global)

Interaction StrengthThe fundamental property driving the performance of Watercol series columns is the proper combination and strength of water: column interactions.

WATER: COLUMN INTERACTIONS

Interaction is just rightE�cient transfer of water molecules

from stationary phase into carrier gas

Interaction is too strongWater molecules struggle getting from

stationary phase into carrier gas

Severe water peak tailingor complete adsorption

Sharp water peak shape

Fused SilicaPhase

Carrier Gas

Fused SilicaPhase

Carrier Gas

Watercol Columns Other Columns

Column SelectionThree chemistries are available, each with a different selectivity. Table 1 (page 8) contains complete column specifications. While each of these columns can be used to either quantify water or quantify small polar analytes in water, proper column selection for a particular application depends on the assortment of analytes present

Figure 1. Water Standard (0.05% in Ethanol) on Watercol 1910

column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U) oven: 80 °C (10 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 26 cm/sec injection: 0.5 µL, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split type, cup design sample: water at 0.05% (v/v) in ethanol

0 2 4 6 8Min

1

2

1. Ethanol 2. Water

Figure 2. Water Calibration Curve (0.01–0.5%) on Watercol 1910

column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U) oven: 80 °C (10 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 26 cm/sec injection: 0.5 µL, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split type, cup design sample: 5 standards, water at 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% (v/v),

each in ethanol

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

TCD

Res

pons

e (B

lank

Cor

rect

ed)

% Water (v/v)

r2 = 0.9923

in the sample. The chromatograms in this brochure cover a variety of analytes and compound classes. Additional chromatograms, product information, real-time availability, and ordering information is available 24 hours a day at sigma-aldrich.com/watercol.

sigma-aldrich.com/watercol

Watercol™ Capillary GC Columns

Figure 3. Water as an Analyte

column: Watercol 1460, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm column: Watercol 1900, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U) oven: 96 °C inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 26 cm/sec injection: 1 µL, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split type, cup design sample: 6 analytes in acetone

1. n-Tridecane 2. Water 3. 2-Octanone 4. 1-Heptanol 5. 1-Octanol 6. Naphthalene

0 2 4 6 8 10 12Time (min)

12

3

4 5

6

Watercol 1910

Acetone(solvent)

Acetone(solvent)

Acetone(solvent)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12Time (min)

1

23

4 5

6

Watercol 1900

Time (min)

1

2

3

4 5

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 20

6

22 24

Watercol 1460

5Order: 800-325-3010 (U.S.) 814-359-3441 (Global)

Figure 4. Water as the Injection Solvent

column: Watercol 1460, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm column: Watercol 1900, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U) oven: 35 °C, 4 °C/min to 125 °C (2 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: TCD, 300 °C carrier gas: helium, 25 cm/sec injection: 1 µL, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split type, cup design sample: 8-component solvent mix in water

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Time (min)

1

2

3

4

5

9

6,7,8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Time (min)

1

2

35

4

6 7

9

8

1

2

3 5

4

6,7

9

8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Time (min)

1. Acetone2. Methylene chloride3. Isopropanol4. Ethanol5. Methanol6. n-Propanol7. 1,4-Dioxane8. Water9. n-Butanol

Watercol 1460

Watercol 1900

Watercol 1910

sigma-aldrich.com/watercol

Watercol™ Capillary GC Columns

Figure 6. Water in a 60-Component Solvent Mix (Chemical Application) column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U); two identical columns installed in the same inlet using

a 2-hole ferrule, each going to a separate detector oven: 50 °C (1 min), 5 °C/min to 180 °C (5 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: FID, 250 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 25 cm/sec (measured in each column at an oven temperature of 125 °C) injection: 1 µl, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split/splitless type, wool packed single taper FocusLiner™ design sample: mixture of 60 solvents, each at 0.2 % (v/v), and water, at 0.3% (v/v), in pentane

0 10 20 30Time (min)

1

TCD

6 8 10

1

Figure 5. Water in Gasoline (Petroleum Application) column: Watercol 1460, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 μm; two identical columns installed in the same inlet using

a 2-hole ferrule, each going to a separate detector oven: 45 °C (4 min), 5 °C/min to 75 °C, 10 °C/min to 220 °C (10 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: FID, 250 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 20 cm/sec (measured in each column at an oven temperature of 135 °C) injection: 1 µL, 50:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split/splitless type, wool packed single taper FocusLiner™ design sample: 1.5 mL unleaded gasoline, spiked with water at 0.25 % (v/v)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Time (min)

1

2

TCD

1. Ethanol2. Water

1. Water

7Order: 800-325-3010 (U.S.) 814-359-3441 (Global)

Figure 7. Water in Ibuprofen (Pharmaceutical Application) column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U) oven: 35 °C (4 min), 8 °C/min to 130 °C (1 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 11.40 psi constant pressure (equal to 25 cm/sec),

measured with oven at 35 °C injection: 1 µL, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split/splitless type, wool packed single taper

FocusLiner™ design (2879925-U) sample: 0.198 g ibuprofen weighed into a 1 mL volumetric flask,

0.5 mL acetone added, vortexed slowly for 30 seconds, acetone added to the 1 mL line, vortexed, transferred to an autosampler vial

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16Time (min)

1

23

1. Acetone 2. Isopropanol (from syringe wash) 3. Water

TCD

Figure 8. Water Impurity in C1-C6 Alcohol Mix column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U) oven: 40 °C (2 min), 4 °C/min to 125 °C (1 min) inj. temp.: 300 °C detector: MSD, m/z = 18–500 MSD interface: 260 °C carrier gas: helium, 1.1 mL/min injection: 1 µL, 100:1 split liner: 3.4 mm I.D., split/splitless type, wool packed straight

FocusLiner™ design (2877601-U) sample: 10-component alcohol mix in methylene chloride, 500 µg/mL

total concentration (mixture adsorbed some water during storage)

10 20Time (min)

12,3 4

5 67 8

9

10

11

Figure 9. Aroma Fusel Alcohols in Tequila (Food and Beverage Application) column: Watercol 1910, 30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm (29711-U); two

identical columns installed in the same inlet using a 2-hole ferrule, each going to a separate detector

oven: 50 °C (1 min), 5 °C/min to 180 °C (3 min) inj. temp.: 250 °C detector: FID, 200 °C detector: TCD, 200 °C carrier gas: helium, 25 cm/sec (measured in each column at an oven

temperature of 125 °C) injection: 1 µL, 100:1 split liner: 4 mm I.D., split/splitless type, wool packed single taper

FocusLiner™ design sample: neat tequila

0 2 4 6 8 10Time (min)

Time (min)

2

3 4 5 6

7

0 2 4 6 8 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

FID

TCD

1. Ethyl acetate2. Ethanol3. n-Propanol4. Isobutanol5. Active amyl alcohol6. Isoamyl alcohol7. Water

1. Isopropanol

2. Methanol

3. Ethanol

4. 2-Butanol

5. n-Propanol

6. Isobutanol

7. n-Butanol

8. Isoamyl alcohol

9. Pentanol

10. Water

11. Cyclohexanol

RYR84179 / T415156

1026

©2016 Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. All rights reserved. SIGMA, SAFC, SIGMA-ALDRICH, ALDRICH and SUPELCO are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, registered in the US and other countries. Solutions within and Watercol are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co LLC. FocusLiner is a trademark of SGE Analytical Science Pty Ltd. Sigma-Aldrich, Sigma, Aldrich, Supelco and SAFC brand products are sold by affiliated Sigma-Aldrich distributors. Purchaser must determine the suitability of the product(s) for their particular use. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Please see product information on the Sigma-Aldrich website at www.sigmaaldrich.com and/or on the reverse side of the invoice or packing slip. Sigma-Aldrich Corp. is a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Watercol™ capillary GC columns contain innovative ionic liquid stationary phases that produce a sharp peak shape for water, allowing the convenient measurement of water by GC.

Table 1. Watercol Series Column Specifications

Watercol 1460USP Code None

Phase Non-bonded; Tri(tripropylphosphoniumhexanamido)triethylamine trifluoromethanesulfonate

Temp. Limits 30 °C to 260 °C (isothermal or programmed)

Watercol 1900USP Code None

Phase Non-bonded; 1,11-Di(3-methylimidazolium)3,6,9-trioxaundecane trifluoromethanesulfonate

Temp. Limits 30 °C to 180 °C (isothermal or programmed)

Watercol 1910USP Code None

Phase Non-bonded; 1,11-Di(3-hydroxyethylimidazolium)3,6,9- trioxaundecane trifluoromethanesulfonate

Temp. Limits 30 °C to 180 °C (isothermal or programmed)

Did you know…?The descriptive numbers (1460, 1900, and 1910) indicate the Kovats Retention Index (KRI) value of water at 100 °C isothermal oven temperature. KRI values indicate the elution location of the analyte relative to n-alkanes, in which the n-alkane carbon number is multiplied by 100. For example, a KRI of 1460 indicates that water elutes after tetradecane (nC14) and 60% of the interval before pentadecane (nC15) elutes.

Ordering Information

Description Cat. No.Watercol 1460 Capillary GC Columns20 m × 0.18 mm I.D., 0.14 µm Inquire30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm Inquire30 m × 0.32 mm I.D., 0.26 µm InquireWatercol 1900 Capillary GC Columns20 m × 0.18 mm I.D., 0.14 µm Inquire30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm Inquire30 m × 0.32 mm I.D., 0.26 µm InquireWatercol 1910 Capillary GC Columns20 m × 0.18 mm I.D., 0.14 µm Inquire30 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.20 µm 29711-U30 m × 0.32 mm I.D., 0.26 µm 29714-U

Related InformationAdditional chromatograms, product information, real-time availability, and ordering information is available 24 hours a day at sigma-aldrich.com/watercol

Order/Customer Service: sigma-aldrich.com/order Technical Service: sigma-aldrich.com/techservice Development/Custom Manufacturing Inquiries safcglobal@sial.com Safety-related Information: sigma-aldrich.com/safetycenter

3050 Spruce St. St. Louis, MO 63103

(314) 771-5765 sigma-aldrich.com