Abstract: Chiral copolymers containing chiral molecular grooves or cavities and oligosiloxane spacers are disclosed. The chiral portion of the copolymer is an enantiomerically enriched organic grouping, having physical properties attributed to uniform and stereochemically possible molecular grooves or cavities, which is chemically and thermally stable to gas, liquid or supercritical s fluid chromatographic conditions and is configured such that one enantiomer of an enantiomeric mixture will be better able to preferentially enter such groove or cavity and interact more strongly than other enantiomers in said mixture.

Abstract: Oligoethylene oxide-substituted aryl and aralkyl alkenes, oligoethylene oxide-substituted aryl and aralkyl alkoxy silanes and polysiloxane polymers containing oligoethylene oxide-substituted aryl and aralkyl sidechains and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The oligoethylene oxide-substituted aryl and aralkyl alkenes are used to prepare the oligoethylene oxide substituted polysiloxane polymers which are useful as stationary phase coatings in gas-liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography in the separation of various closely related chemical substances such as homologs and isomers. The oligoethylene oxide-substituted aryl and aralkyl alkoxy silanes are reactive towards silica particles for use as packing in liquid chromatography columns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel liquid crystalline compounds having the following formula: ##STR1## In the above formula, a is 1 or 2, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be virtually any chemical groups which will maintain the liquid crystalline properties of the resultant compound. The novel compounds of the present invention contain a biphenylcarboxylate ester moiety so as to define a new class of liquid crystalline compounds. The present invention further includes polymers made from the novel liquid crystalline compounds by attaching the compounds to a polymer backbone such as a polysiloxane backbone. Additionally, the present invention also contemplates methods for using such polymers as stationary phases in the chromatographic analysis of various chemical compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for element specific detection in chromatogragphic eluents. The apparatus is comprised of a radio frequency discharge between electrodes in helium, and utilizes a low-resolution plasma emission spectrometer to monitor selected spectral emissions produced when the helium discharge decomposes and excites the atomic constituents in chromatographic column effluents. The spectrometer is tuned to an atomic emission line in the near-infrared portion of the spectrum, and the emission intensity from the discharge region of a selected line is used to monitor the concentration of the element producing that line. Acceptable detector sensitivity is achieved by the use of a high-throughput optical system. Selectivity is achieved by a combination of correct line selection, plasma and carrier gas purification, and plasma gas doping.