Determination of carbon monoxide in tuna by gas chromatography with micro-thermal conductivity detector

The suitability of a portable gas chromatograph equipped with a micro-thermal conductivity detector for the head-space determination of carbon monoxide (CO) in tuna samples is evaluated; CO is estimated after its liberation from tissue by acidic treatment at 70 degrees C. Using the tested technique, the CO contents in untreated and suspected treated samples are analyzed. A limit of detection of approximately 13 ng/g is reached. The results demonstrate that this apparatus has performances similar to more expensive and sophisticated instruments.     

On-line hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters in capillary gas chromatography

An injection splitter in front of a glass capillary column was used for the hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) mixtures. Hydrogenation followed by gas chromatographic analysis on capillary columns permitted detection and identification in complicated natural mixtures of branched fatty acids, showing minor structural differences, in quantities down to 10^?8g. The technique described, apart from its suitability for FAME analysis, shows promise for structure determination studies of other classes of compounds.     

Quantitative analysis with thermal conductivity detection in gas-liquid chromatography

The form of detector now most generally used in gas-liquid chromatography is the katharometer (thermal conductivity cell). This detector, in common with certain other “differential” types that have been employed, requires calibration for a quantitative interpretation of the clution curve, since the signal recorded is not dependent on some simple molecular parameter of the clutcd component and also is not a linear function of its concentration. The present paper mentions several causes of this non-linearity. It further illustrates, with the aid of practical examples (the analysis of narrow hydrocarbon distillates) how the katharomcter can be calibrated by analysing mixtures of the pure components in question, and how the calibration factors are applied in the quantitative interpretation of analyses,     

Analytical accuracy of hydrogen measurement using gas chromatography with thermal conductivity detection

Gas chromatography employing a thermal conductivity detector with a nitrogen carrier gas and a molecular sieve 5 Å column is commonly used for the analysis of widely varying hydrogen concentrations. Flow variation of the column, caused by carrier gas adsorption, affects the peak shape and impacts the analytical accuracy. The mechanism and factors affecting the adsorption effect are explored, errors caused by the deviation from the linearity of the detector's response are considered, and practical advice is given for improving the analytical accuracy.     

On-line multidimensional chromatography using packed capillary liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography

The introduction of selected fractions from a liquid chromatograph into a gas chromatograph has been described; however, analyses were performed by off-line experiments requiring collection and reinjection of the separate fractions or by on-line procedures where disadvantageously, only a fraction of the separated peak or a well resolved component in a mixture could be introduced into a gas chromatograph. This disadvantage is overcome by the apparatus and method described in this paper, which utilizes a multidimensional chromatography system employing a high efficiency, packed capillary LC column coupled on-line to a capillary gas chromatograph. The liquid chromatograph (so designed) can act as a highly efficient clean-up or chemical class fractionation step prior to introduction into the gas chromatograph, significantly reducing sample preparation times in many applications. Thus minor components in a complex matrix can be determined without prior sample clean-up, an example of which is the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in a complex hydrocarbon matrix.     

A new way of using thermal conductivity detectors in capillary gas chromatography

Summary Large volume TCD cells, as commonly used in gas chromatographs, can be used as detectors in capillary gas chromatography without loss of separation efficiency and sensitivity, by expanding the column effluent. This can be achieved by inserting a throttle between the column and the detector cell and reducing the pressure in the cell. A device working at a cell pressure of 20 mbar was studied to determine its usefulness for practical analytical work. The construction of the detector is described. The results of measurements concerning the linearity, sensitivity and accuracy of the detector, when used with glass capillary columns are given.     

Determination of coumarin in fragrance products by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

A gas chromatographic (GC) method is described for the determination of coumarin in fragrance products. Coumarin was tentatively identified by retention time and confirmed by GC/mass spectrometry. The amount of coumarin was determined by external standard. The method was validated by conducting recovery studies from fortified fragrance products at several concentrations. Recoveries of coumarin ranged from 99 to 110%, with a relative standard deviation of 3.24. The method was used to survey a variety of fragrance products purchased in the metropolitan Washington, DC area, for coumarin. Seventy one percent of the products were found to contain coumarin at concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 0.61%.     

On-line sample treatment—capillary gas chromatography

Summary Sample pretreatment is often the bottleneck of a tracelevel analytical procedure. In order to increase performance, increasing attention is therefore being devoted to combining sample pretreatment on-line with the separation technique that has to be used. In the present review, a variety of procedures in use today for sample treatment coupled on-line to capillary gas chromatography (GC) is briefly discussed. Special attention is devoted to coupled-column techniques such as SPE-GC and LC-GC (SPE, solid-phase extraction; LC, column liquid chromatography) which are topics of much current interest, also because of their frequent use in so-called hyphenated systems.     

On-line multidimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/capillary gas chromatography

A new analytical technique combining on-line supercritical fluid chromatography with capillary gas chromatography has been developed. The supercritical fluid sample effluent is decompressed through a restrictor directly into a conventional capillary gas chromatographic injection port. This technique allows for not only direct (100%) sample transfer from the supercritical fluid chromatograph to the gas chromatograph but also for selective or multi-step heartcutting of various sample peaks as they elute from the supercritical fluid chromatograph. Heartcut times are determined by monitoring the responses from the flame ionization or ultraviolet absorbance detectors on the supercritical fluid chromatograph. This report describes the operational setup and provides the results of heartcut reproducibility experiments using normal hydrocarbon and aromatic test mixtures. Results from studies where operational parameters were varied, such as GC injector temperature, will also be provided. The potential usefulness of this new technique for selective heartcutting will also be demonstrated using complex hydrocarbon streams.     

Trace analysis of vinclozoline by gas chromatography with electrolytic conductivity detection and solid-phase extraction

A procedure for the analysis of vinclozoline in tap and surface water by GC and Hall detector has been developed. Each step — the analysis of vinclozoline in acetone standard solution, in deionized water and in tap water after solid-phase extraction — was checked by statistical tests (variance homogeneity, linearity test, residue analysis, runaway tests, F-test, t-test). The detection limits and determination limits were calculated from the calibration curve and its prediction interval (according to the DFG). The detection limit for vinclozoline in tap water was found to be 0.03 g/l and the determination limit is 0.06 g/l by a recovery rate of 89%.     

Element-selective detection using capillary gas chromatography with atomic emission detection

Capillary GC coupled to an atomic emission detector (AED) provides a powerful new hyphenated technique for the separation and characterization of complex mixtures and compounds. The AED provides simultaneous and truly specific multi-element detection. The specificity of detection reduces the need for the complex sample pretreatment procedures which are necessary to reduce the interference from co-eluted substances which is experienced with detectors such as the FID and the ECD. A range of environmentally significant problems has been studied, including PCB analysis, the characterization of the reaction products of a novel waste treatment process, and the profiling of sulfur-containing species formed by the pyrolysis of various types of coal.     

Structural characterization of polyolefins by pyrolysis—hydrogenation glass capillary gas chromatography

In order to obtain quantitatively specific and high-resolution pyrograms of high polymers, fundamental splitting conditions for pyrolysis—gas chromatography were studied using a vertical micro-furnace type of pyrolyzer attached to a glass capiliary separation column. High-resolution pyrograms were measured for polyolefins such as polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP) and various kinds of ethylen—propylene copolymers [P(E-co-P)] using a pyrolysis—hydrogenation device. Microstructures such as short branchings for PE, stereoregularities and chemical inversions for PP and sequence distributions for P(E-co-P) are discussed on the basis of the pyrograms.     

Rapid analysis of coke oven gas by capillary gas chromatography

A porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column has been used for monitoring the light hydrocarbons and permanent gases produced in coking plants. The method, which offers a simple alternative to traditional multi column techniques, entails a single injection on to a Carboplot 007 capillary column and simultaneous thermal conductivity and flame ionization detection. The simplified approach proposed is restricted to coke oven gas analysis: application to other gas mixtures has not been considered. The reliability of this procedure compares favorably with that of traditional methods; the technique is also much less time-consuming: seven individual gases can be determined on-line every fifteen minutes. Primary and secondary gas standards were used to determine response curves for the gases. The method also facilitates reliable calculation of heat values associated with the burning of the fuel gas mixtures.     

Speciation analysis for mercury in gas condensates by capillary gas chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection

A method allowing species-selective determination of atomic mercury, non-polar dialkylated mercury compounds,polar monoalkylated species and inorganic mercury complexes in natural gas condensates was developed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed as a detection method for capillary gas chromatography and compared with microwave induced plasma atomic emission detection for the analysis of hydrocarbon-rich matrices. The method was based on two consecutive injections allowing comprehensive speciation analysis. First a sample aliquot was diluted with toluene and analysed for Hg0 and individual dialkylmercury compounds. Then, another aliquot was butylated with a Grignard reagent for the species specific determination of Hg(II) and monoalkylated mercury species. The detection limits were down to 0.08 pg level.     

Use of deactivated fused-silica capillary precolumns in pesticide analysis by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.

The advantages and disadvantages of coupling a retention gap of fused-silica between the injection port and the chromatographic column are discussed. The influence on the peak width and height of several factors such as the solvent (n-hexane, acetone, ethyl acetate and methanol), the gap (length, inner diameter, deactivation mode), the injection volume and the pesticide concentration has been examined. Those factors have very different incidences so, it is not possible to extract a general recommendation about the use of gaps. For this reason, checking its viability in each particular case is more advisable.     

On-line combination of aqueous-sample preparation and capillary gas chromatography.

An overview is presented of methods currently in use to combine the preparation of aqueous samples on-line with capillary gas chromatography. Two approaches can be distinguished: heartcut-orientated reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography (GC) and analyte-isolation-orientated analyte extraction-GC. These approaches either use techniques in which water is directly introduced onto the GC column, or an indirect approach in which water is eliminated, i.e., by solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction or liquid-liquid extraction, prior to introduction of the analytes onto the GC column. The latter type of approach is much more successful and user friendly, and many applications have been reported.     

Separation and determination of m-phenoxybenzaldehyde reaction products by capillary gas chromatography

A capillary GC method employing an internal standard has been developed and successfully used for quantitative determination both of the raw materials used for the manufacture of m-phenoxybenzaldehyde and for the components of the reaction mixtures obtained at various stages of the development of the process. A complete analysis can be performed in a single temperature programmed run.