350 likes | 375 Views
Basic Gas Chromatography. History. 1850 - Separation of dyes by Runge 1906 - Separation of plant pigments by Tswett 1941 - Theoretical gc (Martin & Synge) 1952 - First gc 1954 - TC detector. Process. Sample is vaporized (if it is not already a vapor)
E N D
History 1850 - Separation of dyes by Runge 1906 - Separation of plant pigments by Tswett 1941 - Theoretical gc (Martin & Synge) 1952 - First gc 1954 - TC detector
Process • Sample is vaporized (if it is not already a vapor) • Passes through a column where interaction occurs - does analyte move with gas phase or stay with stationary phase (column coating) • Separation occurs • Detection - many types of detectors
High purity! Source of mobile phase - He or H Detector gases - none or air/H (Flame ionization detector)
Gas flow regulators • Pressure regulators - stainless steel parts - not welding quality! • Flow regulators - Determine gas flow rates through system (sensitive precision instruments)
Injection port • Introduce sample • Vaporize sample • Split sample (?)
Injection ports - many versions • Split - only a portion of injection goes on column • Splitless - “all” material injected goes on column • On-Column - cold injection (sensitive materials) • Programmed temperature - sensitive materials (more durable method than OC) • Large volume - Can inject 1 ml - solvent removal
Columns • Packed (hard to find) • Capillary (generally open tubular but can be a wall coated PLOT type)
Columns • Generally fused silica - strong and inert • Inner diameters - 0.10 - 0.53 mm • Length - 1 - 60 m • Coatings - several - range in thickness from 0.1 - 5 um
Phase selection PUBLISHED INFORMATION Kovats indices compilations Journal articles Internal work INTUITION like structures NO IDEA? Sample information Nonpolar column Change to polar if needed
Separation theory 1. Adsorption 2. Molecular exclusion 3. Partition 4. Vapor pressure
Adsorption chromatography Interaction with a granular support e.g. Tenax, charcoal, silica gel,
Molecular exclusion Used for the separation of permanent gases e.g. Zeolites, Linde molecular sieves
Partition chromatography • Partitioning between mobile phase and carrier gas vapor pressure • SEPARATION BASED ON THE BOILING PT
Column coatings (stationary phases) • Polar to nonpolar • Polar - Carbowax • Non Polar - silicone based phases
Column ovens • Usually heat ovens to help in separations • Ovens can be controlled from about -60 - 400C
Detectors • Many types varying in sensitivity and selectivity • Discuss most common types
Characteristics of TC detector • Specificity - very little - will detect almost anything including H2O - called the universal detector. • Sensitivity to 10-7 grams/sec - this is poor - varies with thermal condition of the compound. • Linear dynamic range; 104 - this is poor - response easily becomes nonlinear.
Characteristics of a Flame Ionization Detector (FID) • Specificity - most organics. • Sensitivity - 10-12 g/sec for most organics -- this is quite good. • Linear range 106 - 107 -- this is good. • A special type of FID is called an alkali flame (AFID). Rubidium sulfate is burned in the flame and the detector becomes specific for N and P. Organics are not detected. Used for amines and nitrosoamines. (more commonly called the NPD)
Characteristics of an ECD • Specificity - sensitive to halogens, conjugated carbonyls, nitriles, and a few others - no response with ordinary organics or H2O. • Sensitivity 5 x 10-14 g/sec - excellent • Linear range 104 • The radioactive detectors have definite temperature limits.
SELECTIVITY = relative interaction of column stationary phase with both compounds to be separated = tr’2 tr’1 CAPACITY = retention “time” of compounds to be separated k = tr - tm = tr’ tm tm THEORETICAL PLATES = column EFFICIENCY n = 5.545 (tr/Wh)2
Key factors influencing efficiency in gas chromatography are column phase (nonpolar are most efficient) and column diameter.
Phase thickness: • Capacity and Efficiency– influenced by column diameter and phase thickness • Thick phase – capacity • Thin Phase – less capacity
Column length • Longer means better separations but longer analysis times • Time proportional to length • Separation proportional to sq root of length • Poor means of getting separation – costs too much in time. Use diameter, phase thickness or phase type