Comparison of drug retention indexes determined on packed, wide bore capillary and narrow bore capillary columns

Abstract

The retention indices of 75 drugs and other compounds of toxicological significance have been measured on SE-30 equivalent, chemically bonded, fused silica capillary columns under isothermal conditions. The data have been assessed to determine the validity of using retention indices measured on packed columns for the identification of compounds eluting from narrow bore thin film or wide bore thick film capillary columns. The results indicate that the extensive retention index data bases published for SE-30 packed columns may be used for the preliminary identification of peaks eluting from capillary columns in toxicological screening. The study also indicates that retention index data bases generated on narrow bore capillary columns are applicable to wide bore thick film capillary columns.