Restek Rt®-Alumina BOND columns are highly selective for C1–C5 hydrocarbons and separate all saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon isomers above ambient temperatures.

• Acetylene and propadiene elute after butanes
• Best separation for butene isomers (impurities in butene streams)
• Methyl acetylene elutes after 1,3-butadiene
• Cyclopropane (impurity in propylene) elutes well before propylene
• Stable to 200 °C
• Na₂SO₄ deactivation

The reactivity of the aluminum oxide stationary phase is minimized, by deactivation with inorganic salts like KCl or Na₂SO₄, to improve column response for polar unsaturates, such as dienes, and the column's sensitivity (or response) ensures linear and quantitative chromatographic analysis for these compounds.

To ensure reproducible retention times and predictable flow behavior column to column, each Rt®-Alumina BOND column is extensively tested. A hydrocarbon test mix confirms proper phase retention and selectivity. To calculate k (retention or capacity factor), which is a measure of phase retention, 1,3-butadiene is used, while selectivity is measured using retention indices for propadiene and methyl acetylene. The resolution of trans-2-butene and 1-butene is also verified and, to measure efficiency, plates per meter are checked using 1,3-butadiene.

Strong bonding minimizes particle generation and release, which allows valve switching with minimal risk to the injection or detection systems. And because they are stable up to at least 200 °C, Rt®-Alumina BOND columns can be regenerated to restore full efficiency and selectivity by conditioning at their maximum temperature if water is adsorbed. High capacity and loadability give you exceptionally symmetrical peaks, making these columns ideal for volatile hydrocarbon separations at percent levels, as well as impurity analyses at ppm concentrations. Restek Rt®-Alumina BOND PLOT columns are manufactured on fused silica tubing; select phases are also available on metal MXT® tubing.