A micro electron capture detector for temperature programmed analysis with capillary columns for a wide range of applications

Summary The electron capture detector (ECD) has become a indispensable and widely used tool for the detection of halogenated compounds in gas chromatography. The ECD is successfully used for routine analysis particularly in the field of environmental survey, residue determination in the food and agriculture chemistry and even more so in clinical chemistry. However, its application with high resolution glass capillary columns revealed a substantial drawback of existing ECD's, primarily the relatively large internal detector volume. The micro ECD described, with its very small cell volume (140 mm³), particularly designed for use with high resolution capillary columns, minimizes drastically the loss of separation efficiency since diffusion effects are negligible. The micro ECD permits the use of splitless or split injection techniques, as well as temperature programmed analysis to optimize sample separation. Very stable baseline and low noise conditions lower the detection limits considerably (2 pg Lindane full scale). The micro ECD can be operated either with direct current, pulsed frequency or constant current modes. Examples demonstrating the capabilities of this detector include the detection of halogenated organic volatiles in water at subnanogram levels, the determination of PCB's and pesticide residues in food as well as selected analysis in clinical chemistry, such as bile acids and amino acids in body fluids.