ChemTech Innovators R&D Center
The Gas Chromatography Laboratory at the ChemTech Center provides analytical support in identifying and analyzing gas and liquid mixtures. The laboratory has four gas chromatographs and one gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Each gas chromatograph is carefully calibrated for analyzing particular mixtures and or compounds.
Gel Permeation Chromatography/High Performance Liquid Chromatography System (GPC/HPLC)
Fixed Gas Analysis Gas Chromatograph
ASTM D2887 Boiling Point Distribution Gas Chromatograph
Gas Chromatograph with Flame Ionization Detection for Low Boiling Point Alkanes/Alkanols
Electron Capture Detection Gas Chromatograph
Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID)
Gas Chromatography with Thermal Conductivity Detectors (GC-TCD)
Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry Detector (GC-MS)
Gel Permeation Chromatography/High Performance Liquid Chromatography System (GPC/HPLC)
The GPC/HPLC system is a Dionex Ultimate 3000 HPLC System manufactured by Thermo Scientific. The Gel Permeation column is used to separate aliquots of polymers by their molecular weights which are then detected by any of the current detectors. The system is currently set up with a Charged Array Detector (CAD) as well as a Refractometer and UV-Vis Array detectors.
Our GPC/HPLC system stacked. The system flows top down.
The two Gel Permeation columns, a guard column, and our HPLC column, from top to bottom.
Fixed Gas Analysis Gas Chromatograph
The HP 5890 Series A Gas Chromatograph shown above is calibrated from detection and quantification of fixed gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, and ethylene. Fixed gases are separated using a packed column in series with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). In addition, this GC has a second injection port with a packed column in series with a Flame Ionization Detector (FID). The carrier gas is ultra high purity Argon. This system has HP ChemStation Data Acquisition and Control to acquire and integrate signals. Also shown in the above picture is a 16 port sampling valve to allow for flexibility of analysis.
ASTM D2887 Boiling Point Distribution Gas Chromatograph
The HP5890 Series A Gas Chromatograph shown above is specially calibrated according to ASTM D2887 for the analysis of the boiling point distribution of fuels and hydrocarbon mixtures. Analysis is performed according to ASTM specifications with a capillary column in series with a Flame Ionization Detector. The carrier gas is ultra high purity helium and the FID gases are ultra high purity air and hydrogen. Data is acquired and integrated using an HP 3392A integrator.
For more information on Analysis and Characterization of Liquid Fuel Compositions and their Regulatory Standards, the following reference is suggested:
- G. Horne and S. Lee, “Fuel Analysis, Regulatory Specifications for Petroleum and Liquid Fossil Fuels Analysis”, Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry (EAC), Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2017. DOI: 10.1002/9780470027318.a1812.pub2
Gas Chromatograph with Flame Ionization Detection for Low Boiling Point Alkanes/Alkanols
In addition we have a specially calibrated HP 5890 Series A Gas Chromatograph for detection and quantification of n-alkanes and n-alkanols up to dodecane and dodecanol using a Flame Ionization Detector. The carrier gas is ultra high purity helium and the FID gases are ultra high purity air and hydrogen. Data is acquired and integrated using an HP 3392A integrator.
Electron Capture Detector Gas Chromatograph
A recent addition to the lab is an HP 5890 Series A Gas Chromatograph with an Electron Capture Detector (ECD) and Flame Ionization Detector. Electron capture detectors are excellent detectors for compounds that have an affinity for electrons such as ethers, esters, and halogenated compounds. This GC is currently unavailable.
Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID)
We have a Trace 1310 GC-FID system that contains a flame ionization detector. Flame Ionization Detectors are very high sensitivity detectors for organic carbon based molecules with little to no sensitivity for other elements. We have access to multiple carrier gases with the current carrier gas for the instrument being high purity helium.
Gas Chromatography with Thermal Conductivity Detectors (GC-TCD)
We have multiple Trace GC Ultra GC-TCD systems that contain a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). TCDs are excellent bulk property detectors that are decently sensitive to most molecules that are viable to run on GC systems. The Trace GC Ultra systems also contain an inline gas sampling valve that allows them to inject gases from a continuous source, such as our reactor systems.
Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry Detector (GC-MS)
Our 7890A GC-MS system manufactured by Agilent Technologies is a system designed to separate and identify chemical species from gas samples. Our system has both a standard auto sampler for volatile liquid solutions as well as a headspace auto sampler for gaseous injections. The installed software operating alongside the instrument contains a traceable and searchable library of compounds to help identify unknowns running on the GC-MS system, or to confirm known peaks in a separable mixture.
The GC-MS system from left to right, the MS detector (5975C), the column and liquid auto sampler, and the headspace auto sampler (7697A).
Sunggyu Lee, PhD 