A 30m, 0.25mm ID, fused silica capillary column at temperatures from -60 to -100C has been shown to be a quantitative trap for organic compounds with volatilities ranging from that of 1.1-dichloroethene to that of chlorobenzene. This type of 'whole column cryotrapping' provided sharp peaks (peak width approximately 4-7 seconds) for all compounds at a trapping temperature of -80C and with high carrier gas pressures and linear velocities (30 psi and 110 cm/s, respectively). Whole column cryotrapping possesses great simplicity, chromatographic efficiency (no trapping loop connections), and a built-in indicator of quality assurance for trapping efficiency (i.e., peak shape). These advantages are extremely attractive and are indicative of the fact that the potential of this approach has not yet been fully appreciated. (Copyright (c) 1983 Dr. Alfred Huethig Publishers.)