Sensitivity is one of the key factors when selecting an analyzer for a given application. In gas analysis, micro GC provides the wide concentration range for which it is known.
However, increasingly, gas analysis applications are also targeting low-level compounds. Applications for target concentrations around 1 ppm are common today.
Micro GC technology has already demonstrated its ability to measure compounds at 1 ppm. However, this performance is generally limited to one or a few compounds in a given sample. Indeed, in isothermal Micro GC, we necessarily observe a loss of performance for compounds that do not emerge in the first few seconds. Indeed, the higher the retention time, the more the peaks will widen and the peak height will decrease. As a result, the signal to noise ratio becomes lower and the integration more complex.
Thanks to the temperature programming available on the Micro GC Fusion, this limitation is now solved.
This new technological development allows to keep Micro GC performance on the whole chromatogram. The application of a temperature program allows to keep the necessary resolution for first eluted compounds and to benefit from optimal chromatographic conditions for compounds that come out later. Thus, the signal-to-noise ratio is the best possible over the entire duration of the chromatogram and for all the compounds analyzed.
Identification of compounds: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Ethylene (C2H4), Ethane (C2H6), Propane (C3H8), Propylene (C3H6)
Instrument : Micro GC Fusion 2 modules (MS5A / RTQ)
Method :
Column: RT-Q 12m
Column temperature :
- Isotherm : 65°C
- Programming: 65°C >> 150°C (1°C/s) for 20 seconds
The Micro GC Fusion, thanks to the temperature programming, allows to maintain the chromatographic performances throughout the analysis. Compared to an isothermal method, this allows to gain up to 300% of signal to noise ratio on eluted compounds at the end of the analysis.
This unprecedented specification in Micro GC ensures unequalled sensitivity throughout the analysis and optimal chromatographic performance (resolution, signal to noise ratio).
Keywords: chromatography, micro gc, sensitivity, trace analysis, temperature programming, column plot