4.5.2.   Homologous Series of the Low Alcohols

In a homologous series, the analytes differ from each other only by additional CH₂ groups. This allows a systematic variation of the size of the analytes with other molecular properties like polarizability or polarity being nearly constant. In this study the alcohols methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 1-butanol are measured with the microporous polymer Makrolon as sensitive layer of different setups. The differences of the analyte sizes (0.068 nm³ to 0.180 nm³) allow a systematic investigation of the quantification based on different kinetics of sorption into and desorption out off the micropores of Makrolon. The mixtures of the analytes were generated by thermo-controlled bubblers filled with pure liquid analytes sorbed in chromosorb and a subsequent gas mixing station with the same path length for all analytes.