Chromatography Forum

Greetings,

I'm in the process of reviving a Varian 3800 GC equipped with an ECD detector from OI Analytical. I m trying to determine what gasses to use for this single detector.

The manual says to use H2 for the reaction gas, and to NOT USE N2 for the carrier or makeup gases.

So, do I just use H2 for carrier, makeup, and Reaction Gas?

I'm going through a manual for the ECD, but its kind of vague.

Anyone able to offer me any direction?

Thanks if you can!

The3dstickman,

First, it is not an ECD. OI does not make an ECD. An ELCD, yes, an ECD no.

Second, for an ELCD, hydrogen is used to react with halides to create the halide acid, dissolved in propanol (usually) which gives conductivity. Hydrogen as carrier, detector gas and make-up should work fine, seen it done before.

Third, good luck. Challenging detector to get up and running. You can verify conductivity with a little shot of water into the transfer line (with flow, disconnect from cold reactor, inject a little water, re-connect) while monitoring signal. Verifying the reactor tube health is more difficult, should probably just replace it if it has not run in a while.

If not doing F, solvent is different, if doing sulfur solvent and post-reactor are different.

Best regards,

AICMM

Sorry, if doing F then solvent is different than if doing other halides.

Best regards,

AICMM