Preparation and application of cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal gas-chromatographic detector

A re-usable and sensitive cryptand-22-coated quartz-crystal membrane piezoelectric sensor with a homemade computer interface for signal acquisition and data processing was prepared and applied as a gas-chromatographic (GC) detector for various organic molecules. The oscillating frequency of the quartz crystal decreased due to the adsorption of organic molecules on cryptand-22. Effects of functional group, molar mass, steric hindrance and polarity of organic molecules on frequency responses of the cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal detector were investigated. The cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal GC detector had demonstrated high sensitivity for various polar organic molecules and good reproducibility when re-used. The frequency responses of the cryptand-coated crystal for various molecules were in the following order: carboxylic acids (RCOOH)primary amines (R-NH₂)>alcohols (ROH)>secondary amines (R₂NH)>tertiary amines (R₃N)>ketones. More polar molecules exhibited better frequency responses. The effect of temperature and amount of coating on the frequency responses of cryptand-coated crystal GC detector were also investigated. The cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal GC detector compared well with the commercial thermal conductivity detector (TCD).