Chromatography Forum

I am new at this. I have a Shimadzu GC-2010 TCD and FID..Helium carrier

I want to build a method for natural gas: Nitrogen, CO2, Methane, Ethane, Propane, Isobutane, Butane, Isopentane, pentane and Hexane.

I am wanting a rapid TCD run only... Where do I start? I am clueless... Software is GCsolution Can anyone get me on the right track... I have never made method before... Can anyone help?

Confused2

Maybe...I should try to make a method with both the TCD and FID detectors... Porapak, mole sieve and capillary columns installed... Capillary going to the FID. How can this be done? Where do I begin to make a method for natural gas N2-Hexane?

What do you have installed on your GC. This analysis must be done with automated valves. You can use the FID and TCD, but for normal natural gas up to C6, the TCD should be sufficient.

You need to understand what can be separated on each column. You are in the right area using molsieve, porapak and a capillary column, but this analysis can be done just as well on packed columns. How fast must your analysis be.

Gasman

confused2,

Check out the GC manufacturers web sites. I know at least two of them (Thermo's and Varian's) have information on natural gas analysis that would help you get started. I am very confident that the others will as well.

Best regards.

confused2，
You should separate N2,CO2 by mole sieve and separate hydrocarbons by Al2O3－PLOT column.

You should not use a mol sieve column for CO2 analysis. It will be absorbed, and can only be removed by heating the column to a high temp. Use mol sieve for helium, hydrogen, argon, oxygen, nitrogen, methane and carbon monoxide separations.

Be careful using Alumina PLOT columns, they overload very easy. For natural gas an overkil, but fine if you have many isomers present.l

Gasman