Half the Column, Same Chromatogram: Maintain Resolution with Proper Method Translation After Trimming a Column for Maintenance

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are additive flame retardants that are used in many household and office products, including furniture, electronics, and textiles. The analysis of PBDEs is challenging due to structural isomers and thermally-labile compounds that may breakdown. Furthermore, nonvolatile material may still persist even in cleaned final extracts, requiring GC column and inlet maintenance to be performed. This application note demonstrates that trimming a coil off of a GC column as part of routine maintenance extends column lifetime; however, in order to maintain resolution of the target analytes following maintenance, the method must be properly translated for the shorter column length.