Patent ID: 8778059

Claim:
An apparatus for gas chromatographic analysis of a sample containing at least a first component and a second component, the apparatus comprising: an elongated open tubular column having an inlet and an outlet, wherein (i) the column has a cross section varying continuously along a length of the column, (ii) the cross section of the column is primarily increasing when moving longitudinally toward the outlet of the column, and (iii) the column is arranged such that the first and second components are capable of entering the column at the inlet, flowing through the column, and exiting the column at the outlet; and a source of a mobile phase in fluid communication with the column such that the mobile phase can flow through the column thereby carrying the first and second components through the column from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the first and second components when flowing through the column from the inlet to the outlet, have first and second accelerations respectively, the length of the column being sufficient to allow for discernible separation of the first and second components within the column.