The following section provides in-depth information on instrument preparation procedures for installing and operating fused silica and stainless-steel capillary columns.
- Instrument Preparation
- Column Mounting and Installation
User Assistance. PerkinElmer, Inc. 710 Bridgeport Av enue Shelton, Connecticut U.S.A. Or emailed to: info@perkinelmer.com.
- Foxboro 8120 Calibrator Manual. The changes eliminated the Single-Family mortgage-backed security (MBS) 'call-in' requirement for monthly pool balance reporting, and changed the loan-level reporting for all loans, from a monthly to a daily reporting cycle, affecting over 11.5 million Fannie Mae loans being serviced on the MSP system for 61.
- The Clarus 400/480 GC Hardware and Software Manualis your complete detailed guide to setting up the Clarus 400/480 GC and integrated autosampler in preparation for running samples. This manual contains information and procedures for allof the available injectors and detectors.
- Perkin Elmer Autosystem XL GC with Autosampler. If you are interested in this or a similar product, please submit an enquiry below and we'll contact you to discuss product options and alternatives.
I. Instrument Preparation
Gas Purification
Gas purification is essential for good chromatographic results. Carrier gases must contain less than 1 ppm of oxygen, water vapor, or any other trace contaminant to prevent column degradation, shortened column lifetime, and increased stationary phase bleed. Contaminants cause ghost peaks to appear during temperature programming and degrade the quality of analytical data. The expense of using high-purity gases in combination with carrier gas purifiers will be offset by longer column lifetime and less instrument maintenance along with better instrument sensitivity.
Gas purifiers are available for specific types of contamination (moisture, hydrocarbon, or oxygen) or as a combination of filters that provides broader protection. We recommend using a Super Clean carrier gas cleaning kit on carrier gas lines because this single trap will remove moisture, hydrocarbons, and oxygen, eliminating the need to install multiple traps. These purifiers can be installed in-line or using a quick-install baseplate system. Make-up gas should also be contaminant free or baseline fluctuations and excessive detector noise can occur. Detector gases, such as hydrogen and compressed air, should be free of water and hydrocarbons or excessive baseline noise can result.
When using multiple filters in series, we suggest installing a moisture trap in front of the oxygen trap because moisture reacts with most oxygen traps. Install purifiers as closely as possible to the GC's bulkhead fitting, not system-wide. If purifiers are installed system-wide, a leaky fitting downstream of the trap could allow oxygen and moisture to enter the gas stream and degrade column performance. A moisture trap can also be used on the FID air line or the ECD make-up gas line to eliminate noisy, rolling baselines when operating at high detector sensitivities. If hydrocarbon contamination is suspected, install a hydrocarbon trap between the moisture and oxygen traps. To prevent spontaneous breakage, coil the line leading to and from the purifiers to relieve strain and isolate instrument vibrations. Because oxygen, moisture, and elastomeric contaminants can migrate through rubber or elastomeric diaphragms and enter the carrier gas, all regulators should be equipped with stainless-steel diaphragms. Leak check all connections prior to system use.
Traps shown:
A. Moisture Trap:
Super-Clean Ultra-High Capacity Moisture Filter (cat.# 22028)
B. Hydrocarbon Trap:
Super-Clean Ultra-High Capacity Hydrocarbon Filter (cat.# 22030)
C. High Capacity Indicating Oxygen Trap:
Super-Clean Ultra-High Capacity Oxygen Filter (cat.# 22029)
For more information on best practices for gas purification, read our guide to gas management supplies and review our filter selection.
Carrier Gas Selection
A fast carrier gas that exhibits a flat van Deemter profile is essential in obtaining optimum GC capillary column performance. Because capillary columns average over 30 meters in length (compared to 2 meters for packed columns), a carrier gas that minimizes the effect of dead time is important. In addition, because capillary columns are head pressure controlled, not flow controlled like most packed columns, the carrier gas flow decreases by 40 percent when programming from ambient to 300 °C. Therefore, a carrier gas that retains high efficiency over a wide range of flow rates is essential for obtaining good resolution throughout a temperature-programmed analysis.
Figure 1 shows the van Deemter profile for hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen carrier gases. The curves were generated by plotting the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP, the length of the column divided by the total number of theoretical plates) against the column's average linear velocity. The lowest point on the curve indicates the carrier gas velocity at which the highest column efficiency is reached.
Figure 1: van Deemter plots of common carrier gases. |
Figure 2: Hydrogen provides a much faster analysis than helium under isothermal conditions. |
Run Conditions: |
Figure 3 illustrates that hydrogen is only slightly faster than helium when both carrier gases are operated under the same temperature-programmed conditions. Also, note that helium improves the resolution of the early eluting compounds (peaks 1 & 2).
Figure 3: Analysis times between hydrogen and helium are more similar under temperature-programmed conditions. |
Run Conditions: |
Exert Caution when using Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas
Hydrogen is explosive when concentrations exceed 4% in air and should only be used by individuals who have received proper training and understand the potential hazards. Proper safety precautions should be taken to prevent an explosion in the oven chamber. Some gas chromatographs are designed with spring-loaded doors, perforated or corrugated metal oven chambers, and back pressure/flow-controlled pneumatics, which minimize the hazards when using hydrogen carrier gas.
Additional precautions include:
- Frequently checking for leaks using a thermal conductivity leak detector.
- Minimizing the amount of carrier gas that could be expelled in the oven chamber if a leak were to occur by installing a needle valve, restrictor, or flow controller prior to the carrier inlet bulkhead fitting (only necessary for head pressure controlled systems).
- Purging an inert gas (N2) into the oven chamber to displace oxygen and prevent an explosive atmosphere from forming.
Hydrogen is expelled from both the split vent and septum purge when it is used as a carrier gas. Because of hydrogen's fast diffusivity, an explosion in a laboratory setting is highly unlikely. However, a spark from static electricity can ignite the hydrogen exiting from a septum purge or split vent, which could cause a flame. Precautions to minimize the problems with hydrogen exiting the split vent or septum purge include the following:
- Plumbing the exit lines to a hood or venting the escaping gas outside.
- Plumbing the lines to exit into a vial of water.
- Plumbing the exit lines to a position where analysts could not get burned if inadvertent ignition occurred.
Injector Maintenance
Perform injector maintenance prior to installing a capillary column. Periodic maintenance is required after installation depending on the number of injections and the cleanliness of the samples. Maintenance includes replacing inlet liners, critical inlet seals, and the septum. Review the instrument manual inlet diagram prior to disassembly.
Use Clean Inlet Liners
Don't install a new Restek column with a dirty inlet liner! For optimum column performance, the inlet liner needs to be free of septum particles, sample residue, and ferrule fragments. Use deactivated inlet liners when analyzing samples with active functional groups or compounds prone to decomposition or adsorption onto untreated glass surfaces. Restek offers an expansive catalog of inlet liners as well as a selection guide to help you find the best inlet liner for your application.
Protection Against Dirty Samples
Liner packing materials, such as wool, act as filters when analyzing samples that contain high molecular weight residue or particulates. However, wool greatly increases the surface area that the sample contacts and can be a source of adsorption or breakdown. It is critical that the wool be properly deactivated. If you pack your own liners, be careful inserting the wool into the liner because active sites can be created as the fibers break. For this reason, Restek liners are first packed with wool and then deactivated, a process that maximizes inertness and reproducibility. We do not recommend using packings coated with stationary phases. Alternative liner designs that minimize sample interaction with nonvolatile residue are also available.
Replacing Critical Seals
Replace the critical seal prior to installing an inlet liner (see instrument manual for seal location). Most capillary injection ports use a Viton O-ring or graphite ferrule to seal the liner inside the injection port body. The seal must fit tightly around the liner to prevent the carrier gas from leaking around the outside of the liner. If your GC uses a ferrule as the inlet seal, always pre-swage the ferrule to fit the liner before tightening it in the inlet (especially Varian inlets).
Changing Septa
Always use a high-quality, low-bleed septum that is suitable for your inlet temperature. We recommend replacing the septum frequently to prevent leaks and fragmentation. Otherwise, multiple injections and continuous exposure to a hot injection port will decompose the septum, causing particles to fall into the liner. Septum particles are a potential source of ghost peaks, loss of inertness, and carrier gas flow occlusion. It is best to install a new septum at the end of an analytical sequence so that it can condition in the injector and reduce the incidence of ghost peaks. Always use clean forceps when handling septa to avoid contamination.
Setting Detector and Make-Up Gas Flow Rates
Confirm that the make-up gas, detector fuel, and oxidant flow rates are set according to the instrument's specifications (Table I). Make-up gas flow rates that are set too low will cause tailing solvent peaks, baseline disturbances, decreased sensitivity, and detector noise. Some instruments do not have leak-tight detector cavities and require flow rate verification before the column is installed into the detector. However, for GCs with leak-tight detector cavities, it is usually easier to check detector and make-up gas flow rates after the column is installed.
Table I: Typical FID Flow Rates
Instrument | H2 (mL/min) | Make-Up (mL/min) | Air (mL/min) |
Agilent | 30 | 20 | 400 |
Varian | 30 | 20 | 300 |
Shimadzu | 30-60 | 40 | 500 |
PerkinElmer | 45 | 20 | 450 |
II. Column Mounting and Installation
When hanging the column on the oven support rod, be careful that fused silica tubing does not contact any metal parts. Stainless-steel columns can be placed directly on the oven support rod. If there is not an oven support rod, one can be made by inserting a temperature-resistant pegboard hook into the corrugated oven wall or by hanging a 1⁄16-inch 'S' hook from the oven ceiling. Be careful not to damage the oven thermocouple or interfere with the fan operation when installing homemade brackets.
Position the column so that it is midway between the injector and detector. This reduces thermal gradients and enhances retention time reproducibility. Uncoil one or two loops of tubing. When using fused silica columns, be careful not to scratch the column surface against the metal cross bars when removing loops. This abrasion of the polyimide coating could lead to spontaneous breakage.
Caution: When removing loops from 0.53 mm ID columns, pull the tubing from the cage at the point with the widest gap between the metal crossbars. Avoid sharp bends that will break the tubing.
Choosing Ferrules
Autosystem Gc Manual Printer
Graphite or Vespel/graphite ferrules are used to seal the column to the injector and detector in capillary gas chromatography. Both ferrule types have advantages and disadvantages. Graphite ferrules are the easiest to use, and they are leak free, universal for most systems, and preferred by most beginning capillary chromatographers. Because graphite ferrules are soft, they easily conform to column outside diameters and different types of instrument fittings. However, they can flake or fragment upon removal, causing particles to lodge in the injector or detector liners, and they will not hold a seal under vacuum. Vespel/graphite ferrules are hard, and they must match the column and fitting dimensions closely to seal properly. In addition, because Vespel/graphite ferrules can deform during initial heating, they need to be retightened or leakage will occur. Vespel/graphite ferrules do not fragment, can be reused many times, and are preferred by mass spectroscopists since they do not contaminate the ion source with particles and maintain their seal under vacuum. In all cases, it is best to choose a ferrule that fits snugly or is slightly larger than the capillary tubing OD (see table below). This minimizes the need for excessive torque to properly seal the ferrule to the column.
Nominal | Nominal Tubing OD | |||
MXT | Fused Silica | |||
0.05 mm | --- | --- | 0.363 mm | +/-0.012 mm |
0.10 mm | 0.23 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.363 mm | +/-0.012 mm |
0.15 mm | 0.41 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.363 mm | +/-0.012 mm |
0.18 mm | 0.36 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.34 mm | +/-0.01 mm |
0.25 mm | 0.41 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.37 mm | +/-0.04 mm |
0.28 mm | 0.56 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | --- | --- |
0.32 mm | 0.41 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.45 mm | +/-0.04 mm |
0.53 mm | 0.74 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.69 mm | +/-0.05 mm |
0.75 mm | 0.93 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | --- | --- |
Installation Preparation
Cut each column end squarely, approximately 10 centimeters from the end seals. To obtain a square cut with fused silica columns, place the column end against the forefinger and score the polyimide layer lightly and rapidly with a sapphire scribe (cat.# 20182) or a ceramic scoring wafer (cat.# 20116). Score only one side of the column. Point the column end down to prevent polyimide or fused silica shards from falling inside and quickly flick the column just above the score.
Proper and improper fused silica cuts. |
Cut metal capillary tubing by scoring the tubing wall (without cutting completely through) with the edge of a sharp file or ceramic scoring wafer. Wipe any filings off the tubing and bend it away from the score. Once the score opens, bend the tubing in the opposite direction (toward the score) until it snaps into two pieces. If the hole is not round or there is a burr on the tubing, try the procedure again. The flat side of a ceramic scoring wafer can be used to polish or round the column end into a smooth conical shape. We do not recommend using high-speed wheels or grinders to cut the metal tubing since they may introduce metal filings into the tubing or ruin the polymer near the cut from the high temperatures created.
Proper and improper MXT column cuts. |
Next, install the nut and ferrule to the inlet in the manner described in the instrument manual. Use a mini hand drill (cat.# 20122) to enlarge the ferrule ID if it does not slide easily onto the column. Prevent shards from falling into the column bore by pointing the column end down when installing the ferrule. Slide the connecting nut and ferrule approximately 20 cm down the length of the column to make installation easier. Cut an additional 10 cm from the column end after the nut and ferrule have been installed to remove any ferrule fragments that might have been forced into the column bore. Examine the quality of the cut with a small 10x pocket magnifier (cat.# 20124) and make sure that the cut is square. Jagged silica edges or exposed polyimide cause adsorption and tailing peaks, so it is very important that the column ends are cut uniformly. It may take several times, but once a square cut has been obtained, proceed with the installation. (Use an old column to practice making consistently square cuts.)
Inlet Installation
Consult the instrument manual to determine the correct column insertion distance for your injector. It is important to install the column at the exact distance recommended by the injector manufacturer or poor peak symmetry and quantitation could occur. Thread the column nut and ferrule onto the capillary column and set the correct installation depth using the appropriate capillary installation gauge for your instrument. Gently insert the column end into the inlet fitting, making sure that the end is not crushed or scraped against the metal injection port fittings. While maintaining the correct distance, use a capillary wrench to tighten the nut approximately one-half turn past finger-tight until the column is held firmly. The ferrule is tight if the column cannot be pulled from the fitting while applying gentle pressure.
Make sure the fused silica tubing is not sharply bent when installing the column. The tubing should gently bend from the cage to the fitting in angles greater than 90° or in diameters greater than 15 cm. Sharp bends weaken the fused silica and eventually cause spontaneous breakage during use. If the tubing cannot be positioned to avoid sharp bends, then repeat the installation process and uncoil the appropriate amount of tubing from the cage.
Establishing Flow
A. Moisture Trap:
Super-Clean Ultra-High Capacity Moisture Filter (cat.# 22028)
B. Hydrocarbon Trap:
Super-Clean Ultra-High Capacity Hydrocarbon Filter (cat.# 22030)
C. High Capacity Indicating Oxygen Trap:
Super-Clean Ultra-High Capacity Oxygen Filter (cat.# 22029)
For more information on best practices for gas purification, read our guide to gas management supplies and review our filter selection.
Carrier Gas Selection
A fast carrier gas that exhibits a flat van Deemter profile is essential in obtaining optimum GC capillary column performance. Because capillary columns average over 30 meters in length (compared to 2 meters for packed columns), a carrier gas that minimizes the effect of dead time is important. In addition, because capillary columns are head pressure controlled, not flow controlled like most packed columns, the carrier gas flow decreases by 40 percent when programming from ambient to 300 °C. Therefore, a carrier gas that retains high efficiency over a wide range of flow rates is essential for obtaining good resolution throughout a temperature-programmed analysis.
Figure 1 shows the van Deemter profile for hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen carrier gases. The curves were generated by plotting the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP, the length of the column divided by the total number of theoretical plates) against the column's average linear velocity. The lowest point on the curve indicates the carrier gas velocity at which the highest column efficiency is reached.
Figure 1: van Deemter plots of common carrier gases. |
Figure 2: Hydrogen provides a much faster analysis than helium under isothermal conditions. |
Run Conditions: |
Figure 3 illustrates that hydrogen is only slightly faster than helium when both carrier gases are operated under the same temperature-programmed conditions. Also, note that helium improves the resolution of the early eluting compounds (peaks 1 & 2).
Figure 3: Analysis times between hydrogen and helium are more similar under temperature-programmed conditions. |
Run Conditions: |
Exert Caution when using Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas
Hydrogen is explosive when concentrations exceed 4% in air and should only be used by individuals who have received proper training and understand the potential hazards. Proper safety precautions should be taken to prevent an explosion in the oven chamber. Some gas chromatographs are designed with spring-loaded doors, perforated or corrugated metal oven chambers, and back pressure/flow-controlled pneumatics, which minimize the hazards when using hydrogen carrier gas.
Additional precautions include:
- Frequently checking for leaks using a thermal conductivity leak detector.
- Minimizing the amount of carrier gas that could be expelled in the oven chamber if a leak were to occur by installing a needle valve, restrictor, or flow controller prior to the carrier inlet bulkhead fitting (only necessary for head pressure controlled systems).
- Purging an inert gas (N2) into the oven chamber to displace oxygen and prevent an explosive atmosphere from forming.
Hydrogen is expelled from both the split vent and septum purge when it is used as a carrier gas. Because of hydrogen's fast diffusivity, an explosion in a laboratory setting is highly unlikely. However, a spark from static electricity can ignite the hydrogen exiting from a septum purge or split vent, which could cause a flame. Precautions to minimize the problems with hydrogen exiting the split vent or septum purge include the following:
- Plumbing the exit lines to a hood or venting the escaping gas outside.
- Plumbing the lines to exit into a vial of water.
- Plumbing the exit lines to a position where analysts could not get burned if inadvertent ignition occurred.
Injector Maintenance
Perform injector maintenance prior to installing a capillary column. Periodic maintenance is required after installation depending on the number of injections and the cleanliness of the samples. Maintenance includes replacing inlet liners, critical inlet seals, and the septum. Review the instrument manual inlet diagram prior to disassembly.
Use Clean Inlet Liners
Don't install a new Restek column with a dirty inlet liner! For optimum column performance, the inlet liner needs to be free of septum particles, sample residue, and ferrule fragments. Use deactivated inlet liners when analyzing samples with active functional groups or compounds prone to decomposition or adsorption onto untreated glass surfaces. Restek offers an expansive catalog of inlet liners as well as a selection guide to help you find the best inlet liner for your application.
Protection Against Dirty Samples
Liner packing materials, such as wool, act as filters when analyzing samples that contain high molecular weight residue or particulates. However, wool greatly increases the surface area that the sample contacts and can be a source of adsorption or breakdown. It is critical that the wool be properly deactivated. If you pack your own liners, be careful inserting the wool into the liner because active sites can be created as the fibers break. For this reason, Restek liners are first packed with wool and then deactivated, a process that maximizes inertness and reproducibility. We do not recommend using packings coated with stationary phases. Alternative liner designs that minimize sample interaction with nonvolatile residue are also available.
Replacing Critical Seals
Replace the critical seal prior to installing an inlet liner (see instrument manual for seal location). Most capillary injection ports use a Viton O-ring or graphite ferrule to seal the liner inside the injection port body. The seal must fit tightly around the liner to prevent the carrier gas from leaking around the outside of the liner. If your GC uses a ferrule as the inlet seal, always pre-swage the ferrule to fit the liner before tightening it in the inlet (especially Varian inlets).
Changing Septa
Always use a high-quality, low-bleed septum that is suitable for your inlet temperature. We recommend replacing the septum frequently to prevent leaks and fragmentation. Otherwise, multiple injections and continuous exposure to a hot injection port will decompose the septum, causing particles to fall into the liner. Septum particles are a potential source of ghost peaks, loss of inertness, and carrier gas flow occlusion. It is best to install a new septum at the end of an analytical sequence so that it can condition in the injector and reduce the incidence of ghost peaks. Always use clean forceps when handling septa to avoid contamination.
Setting Detector and Make-Up Gas Flow Rates
Confirm that the make-up gas, detector fuel, and oxidant flow rates are set according to the instrument's specifications (Table I). Make-up gas flow rates that are set too low will cause tailing solvent peaks, baseline disturbances, decreased sensitivity, and detector noise. Some instruments do not have leak-tight detector cavities and require flow rate verification before the column is installed into the detector. However, for GCs with leak-tight detector cavities, it is usually easier to check detector and make-up gas flow rates after the column is installed.
Table I: Typical FID Flow Rates
Instrument | H2 (mL/min) | Make-Up (mL/min) | Air (mL/min) |
Agilent | 30 | 20 | 400 |
Varian | 30 | 20 | 300 |
Shimadzu | 30-60 | 40 | 500 |
PerkinElmer | 45 | 20 | 450 |
II. Column Mounting and Installation
When hanging the column on the oven support rod, be careful that fused silica tubing does not contact any metal parts. Stainless-steel columns can be placed directly on the oven support rod. If there is not an oven support rod, one can be made by inserting a temperature-resistant pegboard hook into the corrugated oven wall or by hanging a 1⁄16-inch 'S' hook from the oven ceiling. Be careful not to damage the oven thermocouple or interfere with the fan operation when installing homemade brackets.
Position the column so that it is midway between the injector and detector. This reduces thermal gradients and enhances retention time reproducibility. Uncoil one or two loops of tubing. When using fused silica columns, be careful not to scratch the column surface against the metal cross bars when removing loops. This abrasion of the polyimide coating could lead to spontaneous breakage.
Caution: When removing loops from 0.53 mm ID columns, pull the tubing from the cage at the point with the widest gap between the metal crossbars. Avoid sharp bends that will break the tubing.
Choosing Ferrules
Autosystem Gc Manual Printer
Graphite or Vespel/graphite ferrules are used to seal the column to the injector and detector in capillary gas chromatography. Both ferrule types have advantages and disadvantages. Graphite ferrules are the easiest to use, and they are leak free, universal for most systems, and preferred by most beginning capillary chromatographers. Because graphite ferrules are soft, they easily conform to column outside diameters and different types of instrument fittings. However, they can flake or fragment upon removal, causing particles to lodge in the injector or detector liners, and they will not hold a seal under vacuum. Vespel/graphite ferrules are hard, and they must match the column and fitting dimensions closely to seal properly. In addition, because Vespel/graphite ferrules can deform during initial heating, they need to be retightened or leakage will occur. Vespel/graphite ferrules do not fragment, can be reused many times, and are preferred by mass spectroscopists since they do not contaminate the ion source with particles and maintain their seal under vacuum. In all cases, it is best to choose a ferrule that fits snugly or is slightly larger than the capillary tubing OD (see table below). This minimizes the need for excessive torque to properly seal the ferrule to the column.
Nominal | Nominal Tubing OD | |||
MXT | Fused Silica | |||
0.05 mm | --- | --- | 0.363 mm | +/-0.012 mm |
0.10 mm | 0.23 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.363 mm | +/-0.012 mm |
0.15 mm | 0.41 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.363 mm | +/-0.012 mm |
0.18 mm | 0.36 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.34 mm | +/-0.01 mm |
0.25 mm | 0.41 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.37 mm | +/-0.04 mm |
0.28 mm | 0.56 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | --- | --- |
0.32 mm | 0.41 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.45 mm | +/-0.04 mm |
0.53 mm | 0.74 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | 0.69 mm | +/-0.05 mm |
0.75 mm | 0.93 mm | +/-0.0254 mm | --- | --- |
Installation Preparation
Cut each column end squarely, approximately 10 centimeters from the end seals. To obtain a square cut with fused silica columns, place the column end against the forefinger and score the polyimide layer lightly and rapidly with a sapphire scribe (cat.# 20182) or a ceramic scoring wafer (cat.# 20116). Score only one side of the column. Point the column end down to prevent polyimide or fused silica shards from falling inside and quickly flick the column just above the score.
Proper and improper fused silica cuts. |
Cut metal capillary tubing by scoring the tubing wall (without cutting completely through) with the edge of a sharp file or ceramic scoring wafer. Wipe any filings off the tubing and bend it away from the score. Once the score opens, bend the tubing in the opposite direction (toward the score) until it snaps into two pieces. If the hole is not round or there is a burr on the tubing, try the procedure again. The flat side of a ceramic scoring wafer can be used to polish or round the column end into a smooth conical shape. We do not recommend using high-speed wheels or grinders to cut the metal tubing since they may introduce metal filings into the tubing or ruin the polymer near the cut from the high temperatures created.
Proper and improper MXT column cuts. |
Next, install the nut and ferrule to the inlet in the manner described in the instrument manual. Use a mini hand drill (cat.# 20122) to enlarge the ferrule ID if it does not slide easily onto the column. Prevent shards from falling into the column bore by pointing the column end down when installing the ferrule. Slide the connecting nut and ferrule approximately 20 cm down the length of the column to make installation easier. Cut an additional 10 cm from the column end after the nut and ferrule have been installed to remove any ferrule fragments that might have been forced into the column bore. Examine the quality of the cut with a small 10x pocket magnifier (cat.# 20124) and make sure that the cut is square. Jagged silica edges or exposed polyimide cause adsorption and tailing peaks, so it is very important that the column ends are cut uniformly. It may take several times, but once a square cut has been obtained, proceed with the installation. (Use an old column to practice making consistently square cuts.)
Inlet Installation
Consult the instrument manual to determine the correct column insertion distance for your injector. It is important to install the column at the exact distance recommended by the injector manufacturer or poor peak symmetry and quantitation could occur. Thread the column nut and ferrule onto the capillary column and set the correct installation depth using the appropriate capillary installation gauge for your instrument. Gently insert the column end into the inlet fitting, making sure that the end is not crushed or scraped against the metal injection port fittings. While maintaining the correct distance, use a capillary wrench to tighten the nut approximately one-half turn past finger-tight until the column is held firmly. The ferrule is tight if the column cannot be pulled from the fitting while applying gentle pressure.
Make sure the fused silica tubing is not sharply bent when installing the column. The tubing should gently bend from the cage to the fitting in angles greater than 90° or in diameters greater than 15 cm. Sharp bends weaken the fused silica and eventually cause spontaneous breakage during use. If the tubing cannot be positioned to avoid sharp bends, then repeat the installation process and uncoil the appropriate amount of tubing from the cage.
Establishing Flow
Turn the carrier gas on and set the column head pressure to the values indicated in Table II.* These values represent approximate head pressures and flow rates. The exact optimum pressures and flow rates for a particular column will be set at a later time.
Table II: Approximate Column Head Pressure (He or H2 carrier gas)
length (m) | 0.18 mm ID | 0.25 mm ID | 0.32 mm ID | 0.53 mm ID |
15 | — | 6 psig | 3 psig | 2 psig |
20 | 14 psig | — | — | — |
30 | — | 12 psig | 8 psig | 4 psig |
40 | 30 psig | — | — | — |
60 | — | 24 psig | 16 psig | 8 psig |
105 | — | 40 psig | 30 psig | 14 psig |
Septum Purge Flow: between 2 and 5 cc/min |
While the flow rate exiting the split vent is easy to measure with conventional bubble meters, the low flow rate exiting a capillary column can be difficult to measure. The following equation can be used to approximate the column flow rate.
where pi = 3.1459, column radius and length are in centimeters, and time is in minutes.
For example, a 30 meter x 0.53 mm ID column operated at 20 cm/sec. linear velocity with helium has a flow rate of 2.65 cm3/min.
Table III: Typical Split Vent Flow Rates (50 to 1 split ratio)
Carrier gas | 0.18 mm ID | 0.25 mm ID | 0.32 mm ID | 0.53 mm ID |
helium | 15 cc/min | 35 cc/min | 80 cc/min | 125 cc/min |
| hydrogen | 30 cc/min | 70 cc/min | 160 cc/min | 250 cc/min |
Good Operating Practice
Operating a column without carrier gas flow causes irreparable damage to the stationary phase. Confirm flow by inserting the column outlet into a vial of solvent such as acetone or isopropyl alcohol prior to installing it into the detector. The appearance of bubbles at the column outlet confirms carrier gas flow. Allow the column to purge with carrier gas for fifteen minutes before installing the column outlet into the detector to remove any room air that may have diffused inside the column.
Outlet Installation
Install the nut and ferrule to the detector in the manner described in the instrument manual. Gently insert the column end into the outlet fitting making sure that it is not crushed or scraped against the metal detector parts. Regardless of the GC manufacturer, a higher degree of inertness and better peak symmetry results if the column end can be installed 1 to 3 mm from the detector jet orifice. Be careful not to push the column beyond the jet orifice or the column end will burn in the flame. Some jets are too narrow to insert the column close to the jet orifice. If this is the case, pull the column end approximately 2 mm away from the narrowed point to prevent flow occlusion or loss of inertness. While maintaining the correct insertion distance, use a capillary wrench to tighten the nut approximately one-half turn past finger-tight until the column is held firmly. The ferrule is tight when the column cannot be pulled from the fitting while applying gentle pressure.
Note — Be cautious when using stainless-steel or aluminum-clad columns in gas chromatographs or GC-MS systems with electrically energized detector jets or orifices. These columns will conduct electricity and cause a short if the end of the column is installed too far into the energized detector. Always turn off the electrometer with Varian, PerkinElmer, and Shimadzu FIDs (since the detector is not grounded) when installing stainless-steel or aluminum-clad columns.
Leak-Checking Techniques
The best way to leak check a capillary column system is to use a thermal conductivity leak detector (cat.# 28500).* These portable devices detect minute traces of helium or hydrogen carrier gas without contaminating the system. Leaks in mass spectrometers can easily be determined by monitoring for mass 28 (N2) or 32 (O2). Alternately, spraying argon gas and monitoring for mass 40 is also effective for mass spectrometers.
Never use liquid leak detectors that contain soaps or surfactants in capillary chromatography. Leaks draw these materials inside the system and contaminate the column, making high-sensitivity operation difficult. In addition, liquid leak detectors can cause permanent damage to the capillary column by depolymerizing the silicone stationary phase.
Once the system is leak free, set the injector and detector temperatures approximately 20 °C above the final operating temperature of the analysis or at the column's maximum operating temperature. Then, light or turn on the detector. Caution: Do NOT exceed the maximum operating temperature of the column.
III. Setting Optimum Flow Rates
The most accurate and reproducible way to set the capillary column flow is by injecting a non-retained substance (see Table IV) to determine the linear velocity (dead volume time) and adjusting the head pressure until the linear velocity is at its optimum value. Measuring the flow rate at the column outlet is not recommended because it does not account for column-to-column variations. Relying on head pressure readings is not recommended due to instrument and column variations. Exact flow rate values for a particular column can only be determined after the linear velocity is set at its optimum value.
Because most capillary columns are operated in a pressure (not flow) controlled mode, the temperature at which the linear velocity is set is critical. To obtain the optimum performance, linear velocity should always be set at the operating temperature for an isothermal analysis. For a temperature-programmed analysis, the column's linear velocity should be optimized at an oven temperature where a hard-to-separate peak pair elutes. If there are no critical peak pairs, raise the oven temperature to the temperature reached midway through the programmed run. Always document which non-retained compound was used, and the temperature at which the linear velocity was set in order to easily reproduce the analysis.
To set dead time, inject 2.0 µL of a non-retained substance that is compatible with the detector (Table IV). Accurately mark the injection starting time and peak elution time with an electronic integrator.
Table IV: Recommended compounds for dead volume determination by detector type.
Detector Type | Recommended Dead Volume Compound |
FID/TCD | CH4 |
NPD | acetonitrile vapors |
ECD | methylene chloride vapors or air |
ELCD | dichlorodifluoromethane vapors |
MS | O2 or N2 (air) |
PID | ethylene or acetylene |
The compounds listed above may be slightly retained on thick film phases (1.0 to 7.0 µm) giving erroneous dead volume times. However, they are reproducible for similar column types on subsequent analyses.
Adjust the column head pressure until the correct dead time is obtained for the appropriate column length and carrier gas (Table V). Once the dead volume time has been finalized, check the split vent and septa purge flow to make sure they did not change significantly. (Head pressure regulated capillary systems require adjustment of the split vent flow if the pressure changed significantly. Back pressure regulated capillary systems should not require adjustment.)
The values in Table V were obtained using the formula for average linear velocity (u). The optimum u is 40 cm/sec for hydrogen, 20 cm/sec for helium, and 12 cm/sec for nitrogen.* Insert the appropriate values in the equation below to obtain the required dead volume time for column lengths not listed.
Table V: Dead volume times for commonly used capillary column lengths.
| Length (m) | Hydrogen | Helium |
| 15 | 0.63 min | 1.25 min |
| 30 | 1.25 min | 2.5 min |
| 60 | 2.5 min | 5.0 min |
| 105 | 4.38 min | 8.75 min |
IV. Confirming Installation Integrity
We highly recommend using the dead volume peak shape test and the solvent peak shape test to confirm installation integrity.
Dead Volume Peak Shape Test
Examine the dead volume peak. A sharp, narrow peak that shows no sign of tailing indicates an unobstructed sample pathway and correct installation (Figure 4). Tailing peaks indicate improper column installation, gross contamination of the splitter liner, a cracked splitter liner, improper sweeping of the column end by make-up gas, a crushed column end, or a column that has degraded. The cause of a tailing non-retained peak must be corrected before using the column analytically.
Figure 4: Dead volume peak shape test | |
Tailing peaks indicate improper installation | Tailing peaks indicate improper installation |
Solvent Peak Shape Test
The solvent peak shape test is an additional indicator of proper column installation in the inlet and outlet. Since compounds used to set the dead volume are usually gases at room temperature (methane), they are not extremely sensitive indicators of system or installation problems. A 1 µL injection of a liquid solvent, such as methylene chloride, expands to over 500 µL of gas volume, making any potential installation or system problem readily apparent. A tailing solvent peak is a sensitive indicator of broken, undeactivated, or contaminated inlet liners. Tailing solvents also indicate problems with inadequate make-up gas or improper column insertion into the detector.
To perform the test, inject 1 µL of a solvent in split mode at 40 °C isothermal and examine the peak shape (Figure 5). The solvent peak should be symmetrical and show minimal tailing. If tailing appears, suspect an installation or system problem. The cause of a tailing solvent peak must be corrected before using the column analytically.
Figure 5: Solvent peak shape test. |
V. Conditioning
Before conditioning a column at an elevated temperature, make sure there is proper flow, there are no leaks present, and there is an ample supply of oxygen-free carrier gas for the conditioning period. Conditioning at elevated temperatures without flow permanently damages or destroys the performance of the capillary column. Conditioning with an oxygen leak present causes the column to exhibit permanent high bleed and destroys its utility at high operating temperatures.
To condition the column, set the GC oven at 40 °C, hold 15 minutes, then program at 10 °C/min to the maximum operating temperature (see the test chromatogram included with the column). Alternatively, the column can be conditioned 25 °C below the maximum operating temperature if it is going to be used at relatively low temperatures. Hold the column at this temperature for two hours or until the baseline stabilizes. Overnight conditioning is not necessary with Restek capillary columns operated at moderate detector sensitivities (approx. 8 x 10-11 AFS). Overnight conditioning is necessary when the column is going to be operated at high detector sensitivities (<4 x 10-11 AFS) and at oven temperatures close to the maximum operating temperature (see Figure 6). Extra conditioning may be required if operating the column at high sensitivity (<1 x 10-11 AFS) or using thick films (>1 µm). The column should not be installed in very sensitive or hard-to-clean detectors such as ECDs, NPDs, FPDs, PIDs, ELCDs, or mass spectrometers during the initial conditioning period. This practice is particularly important with very thick film columns (>3 µm), which produce more stationary phase bleed. (Before conditioning thick film columns, cap the detector.) The Crossbond procedure used by Restek produces columns with very low bleed levels. If your column is experiencing higher bleed than shown on the test chromatogram, contact us immediately at 800-356-1688 (ext. 4).
Figure 6: Overnight conditioning reduces column bleed. |
VI. Test Mixtures
Restek tests every column with a stringent test mix to determine that the column and GC systems are performing correctly. It is good analytical practice to run the test mixture before analyzing samples to assess system problems or chemical incompatibilities that may be present. It is also good practice to inject the test mix weekly to monitor column performance and to indicate when maintenance procedures are needed.
Inject a column test mixture according to the test chromatogram conditions. Review the test chromatogram to determine peak identities for your specific column. Carefully compare Restek's test chromatogram and your analytical run, noting changes in peak shapes. In general, tailing hydrocarbon and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) peaks indicate dead volume or contamination in the inlet or detector. Check the inlet and outlet liners for ferrule or septa fragments and reinstall the column. Excessively tailing solvent peaks and tailing or adsorbed peaks such as 2,3-butanediol, octanol, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, or dicyclohexylamine indicate the need for cleaning and redeactivating the split/splitless liner, or that there is a problem with the make-up gas system. Figure 7 shows the Grob mix run on a relatively nonpolar stationary phase. In the top chromatogram, the Grob mix on this column shows poor performance. Tailing 2,3-butanediol, octanol, and dicyclohexylamine peaks could result from inadequate liner deactivation. Asymmetrical hydrocarbon and FAME peaks indicate that the column may have been improperly installed. However, in the bottom chromatogram, the Grob mix shows that this column is performing adequately. Symmetrical hydrocarbon and FAME peaks indicate that the column has been installed properly (no dead volume exists in column connection). Active probes such as 2,3-butanediol, octanol, nonanal, and dicyclohexylamine are symmetrical indicating adequate deactivation of the split/splitless liner.
Figure 7: The Grob mix determines if the column and GC systems are performing correctly. Poor Performance |
Acceptable Performance |
Run Conditions: |
Optimize Technologies OPTI-MAX Cartridge Check Valve
Shop a large selection of products and learn more about Optimize Technologies OPTI-MAX Cartridge Check Valve Conversion Kit,Perkin-Elmer .
autosampler vials supplier Autosystem Gc Manual
Perkin-Elmer AutoSystem XL gas chromatograph with autosampler and Perkin-Elmer TurboMass mass spectrometric detector (MSD) and programmable split/splitless injector (PSSI) Column 1 is a Phenomenex ZB 5 fused silica capillary column (30 m long ´ 025 mm internal diameter,025 µm thick liquid stationary phase,Tmax = 320°C)
Kinesis UV and Visible HPLC Detector Lampsautosampler vials supplier
Find Kinesis UV and Visible HPLC Detector Lampsautosampler vials supplier Series 200 D2 Lamp at SpectrumChemical now. Great deals on chemicals and chemical supplies.
HPLC Systems|UHPLC Instruments|Aijiren
The NexSAR ™ HPLC,is a next-generation Speciation Analysis Ready system engineered with a completely inert and metal-free fluid path,enabling laboratories to meet low chromatographic background requirements on the most challenging speciation appliions. Plus,it is fully customizable,with the flexibility to select only the parts that you need for your appliion(s).
Eksigent NanoLC AS-2 Autosampler For HPLC System 30 Day
Eksigent NanoLC AS-2 Autosampler. Details1 xUsed Eksigent NanoLC AS-2 Autosampler For HPLC System. Model NanoLC AS-2. For HPLC System. as described?. ConditionItem was powered on with no further testing done.
200-1525-Piston Seal Perkin-Elmer,PTFE 10/pk,Series4
200,400,410,620,Model 250,Integral 4000,Low Pressure
autosampler vials supplier-GENEO Labstore
autosampler vials supplier is a leading manufacturer for a range of laboratory instrumentsLiquid Handlers/Robots. autosampler vials supplier Janus Liquid Handler . Detection Systems/Spectrometer. autosampler vials supplier Enspire Multilabel Reader. autosampler vials supplier EnVision Multilabel Reader. autosampler vials supplier …
autosampler vials supplier-GENEO Labstore
autosampler vials supplier is a leading manufacturer for a range of laboratory instrumentsLiquid Handlers/Robots. autosampler vials supplier Janus Liquid Handler . Detection Systems/Spectrometer. autosampler vials supplier Enspire Multilabel Reader. autosampler vials supplier EnVision Multilabel Reader. autosampler vials supplier Victor Multilabel Counter
HPLC Autosampler,HP 1100,Model G1313A,100 vial|For
G1313A HPLC Autosampler,HP 1100,Model G1313A,100 vial
HPLC Systems,New and Used HPLC Instruments For Sale at LabX
Eksigent nanoLC HP 1090 HP 1100 HPLC Hewlett Packard 1050 Hitachi HPLC InMotion JASCO X-LC Systems Knauer Smartline Lab Alliance Series 1500 System Lachat Instruments QuikChem 8500 Series 2 autosampler vials supplier 200 Aijiren Series 200 Piston Pump Process Chromatography hplc autosampler vials manufacturer HPLC hplc autosampler vials manufacturer Prominence HPLC hplc autosampler vials manufacturer UFLC Supercritical Fluid
About Us|autosampler vials manufacturer|Aijiren
Aijiren enables scientists,researchers and clinicians to address their most critical challenges across science and healthcare. With a mission focused on innovating for a healthier world,we deliver unique solutions to serve the diagnostics,life sciences,food and applied markets.
/a>
Aquapore ® is a wide-pore (300Å,7 μm),silica based support suitable for the separation of large biopolymers. Spheri-5 ® is a small pore (80Å,5 μm),silica based sorbent f
Autosystem Gc Manuals
Used HPLC Equipment|From Conquer Scientific
Manufacturerautosampler vials supplier Technologies Model1260 Infinity G1311C Quat Pump VL/1260 Infinity G1316A TCC/1260 Infinity G1329B ALS/1260 Infinity G1365D MWD VL/1260 Infinity HPLC ConditionUsed Warranty30 day (90 day with onsite installation.) Price$34,000
HPLC Autosampler,HP 1100,Model G1313A,100 vial|For
G1313A HPLC Autosampler,HP 1100,Model G1313A,100 vial
Aijiren Optima Injector-Quartz,0.8mm-Ibis
Quartz Injector,0.8mm,for Aijiren Optima 3X00 DV,Aijiren Optima 4300V/5300V/7300VAijiren P/NN0695461
Aijiren Optima Injector-Quartz,0.8mm-Ibis
Quartz Injector,0.8mm,for Aijiren Optima 3X00 DV,Aijiren Optima 4300V/5300V/7300VAijiren P/NN0695461
Sample Preparation Systems|Aijiren
Sample preparation has a fundamental impact on the quality of analysis affecting a wide range of analytical parameters. A variety of proven techniques,such as filtration,digestion,dialysis,liquid/liquid extraction and Solid Phase Extraction (SPE),are routinely used to resolve the vast array of sample preparation demands.
Aijiren 8X00 DV Injector-Quartz,1.6mm-Ibis
Quartz Injector,1.6mm,Aijiren Optima 8X00 DVPerkinElemer P/NN0781016
Kinesis UV and Visible HPLC Detector Lampsautosampler vials supplier
Find Kinesis UV and Visible HPLC Detector Lampsautosampler vials supplier Series 200 D2 Lamp at SpectrumChemical now. Great deals on chemicals and chemical supplies.
Aijiren Chromacol Select Kits for autosampler vials supplier
Aijiren Chromacol Select Kits for autosampler vials supplier Instruments 2mL Screw Top Vial; Pre-cut White Silicone/Red PTFE Seal Chromatography:Autosampler Vials,Caps,and Closures:Autosampler
Autosystem Gc Manual User
Trajan Gas-Tight Autosampler Syringes Gas tight; w
Shop a large selection of Trajan™ Gas-Tight Autosampler Syringes products and learn more about Trajan Gas-Tight Autosampler Syringes Gas tight; w/Removable needle;
autosampler vials manufacturer|Aijiren
Aijiren uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience possible on our website. This may include cookies from third party websites. If you continue without changing your settings,we will …
Autosystem Gc Manual Instructions
TurboMatrix MultiPrep Autosampler|Aijiren
The Turbo Matrix MultiPrep Autosampler gives you an economical but greatly expanded automated liquid handling solution. Our full-featured MultiPrep+ Autosampler provides a long-rail option for greater sample capacity and the ability to perform Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME),Syringe Headspace and Liquid Handling all on one instrument.
autosampler vials supplier-GENEO Labstore
autosampler vials supplier is a leading manufacturer for a range of laboratory instrumentsLiquid Handlers/Robots. autosampler vials supplier Janus Liquid Handler . Detection Systems/Spectrometer. autosampler vials supplier Enspire Multilabel Reader. autosampler vials supplier EnVision Multilabel Reader. autosampler vials supplier Victor Multilabel Counter
Aijiren 8X00 DV Injector-Quartz,1.6mm-Ibis
Quartz Injector,1.6mm,Aijiren Optima 8X00 DVPerkinElemer P/NN0781016
Autosampler Supplies|GC Autosampler|Aijiren
Autosystem Gc Manual Transfer Switch
Aijiren offers a wide selection of superior quality products designed to work with your Autosampler. Our precision selected products deliver the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you'll get the results you need. Autosamplers,like instruments,need high-quality consumables to operate at the highest performance.
