Response of flame ionization detectors to different homologous series

Summary Hydrogen flame-ionization detectors (FIDs) are the most widely used type of detector in gas chromatography. The FID signals is proportional to the number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon molecule; the presence of heteroatoms usually reduces the signal. If the extent of the signal-reducing effect of heteroatoms were known, it would be possible to measure compounds which are not available as pure standards, or cannot be prepared, or their preparation is very expensive. The sensitivity of a detector to an organic molecule containing heteroatoms is referred to normal hydrocarbons by means of the effective carbon-atom number (ECN) value. By use of the values of increments inECN for heteroatoms and functional groups, theECN can be calculated for any organic molecule. For this, exact values of theECN increments are needed, and the effects of different factors on the increments must be known. In this study a wide range of homologues of normal paraffins, alcohols, amines, and esters was investigated, with emphasis on differences between the behaviour of lower and higher homologues. Studies were extended to theECN values of ketones, and aromatic and halogenated compounds. For all types of compound investigated the difference between the actual carbon number and the calculated effective carbon number (dECN) was compared with literature data, and an attempt was made to interpret the differences.     

The effect of molecular structure upon the response of the flame ionization detector

Summary It is known that the response of the FID is proportional to the number of carbon atoms in hydrocarbon molecules. If there is a heteroatom in the molecule, the response of the FID decreases. It is possible to calculate the sensitivity to any organic molecule if the signal-decreasing effect of a heteroatom or functional group is known. The sensitivity of a detector to an organic molecule containing heteroatoms is referenced to normal hydrocarbons by means of the effective carbon-atom number (ECN). Several authors have dealt with the determination ofECN values of different molecules and the effective carbon-atom number increment (ECN _inc) values for different functional groups and heteroatoms. In our previous work [1]ECN _inc values of several components were studied for homologous series. In this study we have investigated the effects of molecule structure upon ECN values by comparing theECN _inc of functional groups which are attached to molecules of different structure.     

Effect of ammonia on the response of the electron capture detector (ECD)

The effect of ammonia on the electron capture detector (ECD) response has been investigated. Nitrogen with different ammonia concentrations (5–20%) was used as make-up gas. Compared to pure nitrogen, the ECD response decreased when the ammonia concentration in the make-up gas was 5%. However, the response increased when the ammonia concentration was 20%. The response factor of 4-chlorophenol increased 4 fold when ammonia was 20%. Also, di- and tri-chlorophenols increased by 30–50%. The nitroaromatic compounds responses increased by about 2–3.7 times with 20% ammonia in the make-up gas. The signal-to-noise (S/N) increased when 20% ammonia in nitrogen was used as make-up gas compared to pure nitrogen. Also, the detector linearity increased by 50% with ammonia.     

Analysis of amine compounds by capillary gas chromatography using ammonia–helium carrier gas

The use of 10%, 1%, and 0.1% ammonia in helium as carrier gas was investigated as a means of improving poor chromatographic peak shape often associated with low level determinations of amine compounds using thin film capillary columns. The 1% ammonia in helium was found suitable for improving the peak shape of sterically unhindered amine compounds, such as urethane and certain aliphatic primary amines, during gas chromatographic analysis on thin film columns. There was a negligible effect on the peak tailing arising on thick film columns. The 0.1% ammonia in helium was suitable, but not as efficient as the 1% ammonia in helium, in eliminating the peak tailing associated with low level analysis of amine compounds. The signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio improved from < 1 using helium carrier gas to 20–25 (for certain test amine compounds) using 1% ammonia in carrier gas. The 10% ammonia in helium carrier gas had an effect on the chromatographic performance similar to that of the 1% ammonia in helium, but the baseline level was very high and this mixture was not used in further studies.     

Capillary Gas Chromatography Coupled with Microplasma Mass Spectrometry – Improved Ion Source Design Compatible with Bench-Top Mass Spectrometric Instrumentation

Capillary gas chromatography was performed with mass spectrometric detection using a novel microplasma ion source for operation in an element-selective mode. The ion source was a 350 kHz radio frequency helium plasma, which was sustained inside the 4 cm end of a 0.32 mm i.d. fused silica capillary column, and located inside the high vacuum chamber of the quadrupole mass spectrometer. Due to the low volume of the ion source, a stable low pressure discharge was produced utilizing only the 2.25 mL min⁻¹ of GC carrier gas (helium) for plasma support. Small amounts of oxygen (0.1–0.2% v/v) were added to the plasma gas in order to prevent carbon deposits and to enhance signal-to-noise ratios. Chlorine and bromine were selectively detected at the 5–20 pg s⁻¹ level (S/N = 2), and both produced a response that was linear within 3 orders of magnitude.     

Gas Chromatographic Separation of Carbonyl Compounds as Their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones Using Glass Capillary Columns

The gas chromatographic separation of 22 carbonyl compounds as their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones was investigated using glass capillary columns. Complete separation of the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of ten aliphatic aldehydes, eight aliphatic ketones and four aromatic aldehydes was obtained, except for the derivatives of n-valeraldehyde and isobutyl methyl ketone, whose peaks overlapped, and the o- and m-tolualdehyde derivatives, which were poorly separated. The optimum conditions were as follows: stationary phase, SF-96; column size, 20 m × 0.25 mm I.D. ; column temperature, 200-240°; injection and detector temperatures, 280-290°; carrier gas flow-rate, helium 1.0-1.2 ml/min or nitrogen 1.1-1.2 ml/min. The method was applied to the analysis of aliphatic carbonyl compounds in car exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke.     

The photoionization detector : Theory, performance and application as a low-level monitor of oil vapour

The photoionization detector (PID) is being developed for the detection of low centrations of oil in the carbon dioxide coolant of gas-cooled reactors. In this paper the theoretical response of the PID is derived and compared with its practical response and with that of the flame ionization detector (FID). The PID response is shown to depend primarily upon ionization potential and molar concentration unlike FID response which depends upon carbon number. The dependence of PID response upon the carrier gas used is discussed and the citerion of detection using the PID to measure oil vapour in carbon dioxide was found to be 2ppb.     

二甲醚气相色谱相对重量校正因子的测定

用冰冷却水吸收二甲醚配制样品,将ＴＣＤ和ＦＩＤ串联使用,测定出二甲醚在ＴＣＤ和ＦＩＤ上相对于甲醇的重量校正因子分别为０．８６和０．５５,并通过用甲醇催化脱水生成的二甲醚和水的化学计量关系,在线间接测定二甲醚在ＴＣＤ上相对于甲醇的重量校正因子,从而使上述测定结果得到佐证。     

Peculiarities of gas chromatographic analysis of 6N4 volatile hydrides using a helium ionization detector operated in the ionization amplification mode

A pneumovacuum circuit of a Tsvet-800-2 gas chromatograph with a helium ionization detector (HID) in the ionization amplification mode is proposed for controlling limiting trace impurities in ammonia, arsine, monosilane, and phosphine of grade 6N4. The conditions for the preparation and reliable operation of the chromatograph with the HID are systematized. The effect of an additive of (0.0–17.6) × 10^–4 mol % of hydrogen in the carrier gas of the detector on the polarity of its signal on the impurities of oxygen and nitrogen at a level of (0.5–20.0) × 10^–5 mol % is studied. Methods are proposed for eliminating systematic errors in the determination of the concentration of oxygen and nitrogen in the range from 0.5 × 10^–5 to 1 × 10^–3 mol % in 6N4 volatile hydrides, caused by “counter” impurities in the carrier gas, the mechanism of the heteropolar sensitivity of the HID, and irreversible chemical reactions of oxygen traces with phosphine and products of its decomposition on a CaA–ShM zeolite in a separating column of a chromatograph. Gas chromatography analysis of ammonia, arsine, monosilane, and phosphine of grade 6N4 was carried out.     

Stability of the FID sensitivity during an analysis in capillary GC

The sensitivity of an FID may change when the carrier gas flow rate changes during a chromatographic run. Sample parts which are eluted at reduced FID sensitivity produce a reduced peak area, hence are discriminated as compared to other components. Sensitivity changes were studied for hydrogen as carrier gas. For the detector tested, differences in the carrier gas flow rates of 1 ml/min shifted the FID sensitivity by 1 to 5% (depending on the fuel gas supply). Thus the stability of the sensitivity is no longer ensured as soon as the carrier gas flow rate is changed manually or by an automatic programmer during an analysis. Sensitivity drifts may also occur during temperature programmed runs with a pressure regulated carrier gas supply since the gas flow through the capillary drops with increasing temperature. Such shifts in the response became noticeable as soon as relatively high carrier gas flow rates combined with long range temperature programmes were used. The typical patterns of such discriminations are shown, closing with a discussion on the possibilities for minimizing such undesired effects.     

Metal selective flame ionization detection after supercritical fluid chromatography

This work describes the construction and operation of a flame ionization detector for the selective detection of metal-containing compounds after capillary supercritical fluid chromatography. Using optimal conditions for achieving metal sensitive flame ionization responses which have been established for the detector after capillary gas chromatography, initial evaluation of the detector after SFC proved promising. Like the carbon sensitive FID, it appears that the metal sensitive FID is compatible with SFC when pure carbon dioxide is used as the mobile phase. Response characteristics were found to be similar to those observed when the detector is used in gas chromatography.     

Pulsed discharge detector: theory and applications

The pulsed discharge detector (PDD) is a significant advancement in gas chromatography (GC) detector design which can be operated in three different modes: pulsed discharge helium ionization (He-PDPID), pulsed discharge electron capture (PDECD) and helium ionization emission (PDED). The He-PDPID can detect permanent gases, volatile inorganics and other compounds which give little or no response with the flame ionization detector (FID) and has significantly better limits of detection (minimum detectable quantities (MDQs) in low picogram range) than can be achieved with a thermal conductivity detector (typically not lower than 1 ng). The PDECD has similar or better sensitivity (MDQs of 10(-15) to 10(-12) g) than radioactive source ECD but does not require licensing, wipe tests and other administrative or safety requirements which have increased over security concerns. The PDED shows promise as an extremely selective and sensitive elemental detector but a commercial unit is not presently available. In this report, the theory of operation, applications of the PDD and the practical aspects of using this novel detector are presented.     

Characterization of a microelectromechanical systems-based counter-current flame ionization detector

This work is concerned with the influence of different operating parameters on the response of a counter-current micro flame ionization detector (cc-μFID) with low gas consumption for mobile applications. At cc-μFID flow rates (<10ml/min hydrogen), the response depends mainly on the oxygen flow. At 7.5ml/min hydrogen flow, highest sensitivity (13.7mC/gC) is obtained with the smallest flame chamber and nozzle size, moderate sample gas flow (2.0ml/min), and an oxygen flow above stoichiometry (9.4ml/min, λ=2.5). The largest absolute signal is obtained at increased sample gas flow (8.0ml/min). However, to prevent parting of the micro-flame by the sample gas stream, largest nozzles (smallest outflow velocity) give the best result (4.37nA). Whereas cc-μFID sensitivity is comparable with conventional FID sensitivity, peak-to-peak noise of 1pA is relatively large. Therefore, the minimum detectable carbon mass flow of 1.46×10(-10)gC/s and the minimum detectable methane concentration of 3.43ppm are larger than typical FID detection limits. μGC-μFID experiments show the difference between premixing the sample with the hydrogen or with the oxygen with respect to sensitivity and response factors. Sensitivity is decreased considerably when the column effluent is added to the oxygen instead of to the hydrogen. For hydrogen premixed samples the response factor to butane can be increased up to 0.81 (methane=1), whereas for oxygen premixed samples it is maximally 0.31. This smaller sensitivity to oxygen premixed samples and the larger variation of response factors shows the importance of the hydrogen atom during breakdown of organic molecules to single-carbon fragments before ionization.     

Carbon response characteristics of a micro-flame ionization detector

The carbon response characteristics of a recently noted micro-flame ionization detector (μFID) mode are examined in detail. The μFID supports an extremely small (30 nL) “upside-down” flame that is generated from a low counter-current flow of oxygen immersed in hydrogen. Ionization measurements made in the μFID are directly compared to those obtained from a conventional FID. In terms of reproducibility of response and relative sensitivity towards different types of hydrocarbons, the μFID and a conventional FID produce no major differences with respect to either of these characteristics for a variety of compounds examined. Of note, for replicate measurements made in each detector, the average %R.S.D. of response typically differs by less than 2% between the two devices, while the average normalized sensitivity differs by less than 4%. In contrast to this, regarding absolute sensitivity, the analyte signal from the conventional air-rich FID is found to be three times larger than that of the hydrogen-rich μFID mode explored here. This discrepancy is ascribed directly to the difference in flame stoichiometry between the two detectors.     

Characterization of formaldehyde by gas chromatography using multiple pulsed-discharge photoionization detectors and a flame ionization detector

Formaldehyde, water, methanol, butanal, and butanone are characterized by gas chromatography using three pulsed-discharge photoionization detectors (PDPIDs) and a flame ionization detector (FID). One of the PDPIDs is operated in helium mode, and the other two are operated in argon and krypton modes. The FID is included for comparison. The PDPIDs are used to efficiently differentiate between and quantitatively identify formaldehyde and the other three compounds in a sample mixture. This is accomplished by using butanone as the internal standard and correlating the relative responses of the four organic compounds in the helium-, argon-, and krypton-mode PDPIDs with their relative retention times.     

The Use of the Helium Ionization Detector for Gas Chromatographic Monitoring of Trace Atmospheric Components

Two different gas chromatographic detectors, the helium ionization detector (HID) and the more commonly used flame ionization detector (FID), were used in parallel to compare their responses to a number of organic compounds. Atmospherically important oxygenated species were analyzed, as well as hydrocarbons and chlorinated and sulfur containing organics. The HID exhibited the better response to all compounds investigated, most notably to formaldehyde and higher oxygenates. A gas chromatographic system was developed to trap and analyze atmospheric organic compounds with HID detection. This required careful choice of the adsorbent material and removal of inorganic components (namely nitrogen and oxygen) before analysis. Real air samples were then taken and analyzed qualitatively for a range of olefinic and aromatic compounds.     

Direct quantitative analysis using the flame-ionization detector

It has been generally accepted that the use of the flame-ionization detector (FID) in the quantitative determination of differing types of solute in gas chromatographic eluents necessitates prior detector calibration for each species in question.Methods of operating the FID using hydrogen-rich flames with oxygen as the supporter of combustion have been evaluated, which permits the direct quantitative determination of the solutes investigated on both a molar and a weight mode basis and which therefore enables estimates of molecular weights to be calculated. It has also been shown that the detector response to carbon can be minimized while allowing an enhanced selective response for chlorine.     

Application of copper sulfate pentahydrate as an ammonia removal reagent for the determination of trace impurities in ammonia by gas chromatography

Rapid analysis of trace permanent gas impurities in high purity ammonia gas for the microelectronics industry is described, using a gas chromatograph equipped with a phtoionization detector. Our system incorporates a reactive precolumn in combination with the analytical column to remove the ammonia matrix peak that otherwise would complicate the measurements due to baseline fluctuations and loss of analytes. The performance of 21 precolumn candidate materials was evaluated. Copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) was shown to selectively react with ammonia at room temperature and atmospheric column pressures, without affecting the hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, methane or carbon monoxide peak areas. To prevent loss of trace carbon dioxide, an additional boron trioxide reactant layer was inserted above the copper sulfate pentahydrate bed in the reactive precolumn. Using the combined materials, calibration curves for carbon dioxide proved to be equivalent in both ammonia and helium matrix gases. These curves were equivalent in both matrix gases. The quantitative performance of the system was also evaluated. Peak repeatabilities, based on eight injections, were in the range of 4.1–8.2% relative standard deviation; and detection limits were 6.9 ppb for H₂, 1.8 ppb for O₂, 1.6 ppb for N₂, 6.4 ppb for CH₄, 13 ppb for CO, and 5.4 ppb for CO₂.     

Dependence of the relative retention of organic compounds on the nature and pressure of the carrier gas and on the thickness of the PEG-20M film in the capillary column

The effects of the carrier gas nature and pressure on the relative retention values of organic compounds were studied using a series of capillary columns differing in the film thickness of the polar stationary phase (PEG-20M). Relative retention depends linearly on the carrier gas pressure. This dependence becomes more pronounced in the following order of carrier gases: helium < nitrogen < carbon dioxide. The limiting relative retention at a carrier gas pressure approaching zero rather than relative retention values measured experimentally (relative retention time, Kovats retention index,etc.) is an invariant characteristic of a compound subjected to chromatography. For the carrier gases studied, the limiting retention values almost does not depend on the nature of the carrier gas used. The limiting indicating the complex absorption-adsorption nature of these parameters. Dissolution of a carrier gas in the stationary liquid phase has an effect on the relative retention. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2177–2186, December, 1997.     

大孔径毛细管气相色谱法快速测定饮料中的氯胺酮

采用固相萃取技术 ,以二十二烷为内标 ,FID检测器 ,建立了一种测定饮料中的氯胺酮的大孔径毛细管气相色谱新方法 .测定结果表明氯胺酮的线性范围为 0 0 2mg/L - 6 4mg/L ,其最低检测浓度为 0 0 2mg/L ,相对标准偏差为 2 6 % ,平均回收率为 85 6 % .该法简便 ,准确 ,重现性好 ,结果令人满意