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Slide 2
Installation, Care and Maintenance of Capillary Gas Chromatography Columns
or....
"It's not what your column can do for you, but what you can do for your column"
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Slide 3
Column Installation
"Getting off to a good start"
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Slide 4
Column installation Procedure
• Install the column
• Leak and installation check
• Column conditioning
• Setting linear velocity or flow rate
• Bleed profile
• Test mix
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Slide 5
Column Installation
What type of ferrule should I use?• Graphite• Graphite/Vespel
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Slide 6
Cutting The Column
Gently scribe through the polyimide coating.Do not attempt to cut the glass.
Recommended tools:Diamond or carbide tipped pencil; or sapphire
cleaving tool, ceramic wafer Ocular
Do not use:Scissors, file, etc.
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Slide 7
Example of a Bad Cut
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Slide 8
Examples of Column Cuts
Good
Bad
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Slide 9
Column InstallationMeasuring the right distance
White out Septa
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Slide 10
Column Installation
How tight is tight?
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Slide 11
Overtightened Ferrule
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Slide 12
Column InstallationLeak Check
• Electronic leak detector• IPA/Water • Inject a non-retained peak
DO NOT USE SNOOP
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Slide 13
Leak and Installation CheckInject a non-retained compound vs DB-1
The peak should be sharp and symmetrical
Detector Compound
FID Methane or Butane
ECD MeCl2 (headspace or diluted)
NPD CH3CN (headspace or diluted)
TCD Air
MS Air or Butane
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Slide 14
Non-Retained Peak Shapes
Good Installation Improper Installation orInjector Leak
Check for: Injector or septum leakToo low of a split ratioLiner problem(broken, leaking, misplaced)Column position in injector and detector
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Slide 15
Calculating Linear Velocity
Inject a non-retained compound and obtain the retention time:
µ is dependent on column temperature
=o
µ = Average linear velocity (cm/sec)
L = Column length (cm)to = Retention time (sec)
He 35-40 cm/secH2 45-60 cm/sec
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Slide 16
Calculating Flow Rate
Inject a non-retained compound and obtain the retention time:
F is dependent on column temperatureMeasuring flow with a flow meter is often inaccurate
F = Flow rate (mL/min)r = Column radius (cm)L = Column length (cm)to= Retention time (sec)
=F r2Lto
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Slide 17
Column Conditioning
System must be leak free before conditioning column
Heat the column to the lower of:Isothermal maximum temperature OR20° to 30°C above highest operation temperatureTemperature programming is not necessary
Stop conditioning when the stable baseline is obtained:1 to 2 hours in most cases
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Slide 18
Generating a Bleed ProfileTemperature program the column without an injection*
*DB-1 30m x .32mm I.D., .25µmTemperature program // 40°C, hold 1 min // 20°/min to 320°C, hold 10 min.
Time (min.)0 5 10 15 20 25
6000
7000
8000
9000
1.0e4
1.1e4
1.2e4
1.3e4
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Slide 19
Test Mixes
Used to determine how "good" the column is
#1
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Slide 20
Column Performance Summary
THEORETICAL PLATES/METER: MIN SPEC ACTUAL
COATING EFFICIENCY:
RETENTION INDEX:
PEAK HEIGHT RATIO:
MIN SPEC MAX SPEC ACTUAL
PENTADECANE
PENTADECANE
1-UNDECANOL
ACENAPHTHYLENE
4-CHLOROPHENOL/METHYL NONANOATE
4-PROPYLANILINE/METHYL NONANOATE
0.83
1.14
1371.04 1372.04 1371.43
1459.34 1460.34 1459.53
3900 4389
90.0 95.5
COMPOUNDIDENTIFICATION
RETENTION TIME(T )R
PARTITION RATIO
(k)
PEAK WIDTH(W 1/2)
1,6-HEXANEDIOL
4-CHLOROPHENOL
METHYL NONANOATE
4-PROPYLANILINE
TRIDECANE
1-UNDECANOL
ACENAPHTHYLENE
PENTADECANE
Approximately 5-10 ng on column
(t )o
2.51
2.95
3.21
3.81
4.20
5.52
8.00
9.58
0.9
1.3
1.5
1.9
2.2
3.3
5.2
6.4
0.019
0.022
0.022
0.026
0.027
0.036
0.053
0.062
1.29
PART NO:COLUMN I.D. NO.:LIQUID PHASE:FILM THICKNESS:COLUMN DIMENSIONS:
m X mmTEMPERATURE LIMITS:
C TO C
12250323303121
DB-50.25 µm
30 0.252
-60° 325° ( C PROGRAM)350°
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Slide 21
Chromatographic Performance
TEST TEMPERATURE: C135°
CARRIER GAS: ( )1.2(H )2 38.7
INJECTION: SPLIT ANALYST: ERIK
cmsec min
mL
RETENTION TIME (MIN)
Max.Bleed10.0 pA
325
9.0 pA
135
0 5
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Slide 22
Test Mixture Components
Compounds
Hydrocarbons
Alcohols
FAME’s, PAH’s
Acids
Bases
Purpose
Efficiency
Retention
Activity
Retention
Acidic Character
Basic Character
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Slide 23
Own Test Mixture
• More specific
• Selective detectors
• Actual concentrations
• No conditions or instrument changes
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Slide 24
Break Number 1
• For Questions and Answers
• Press *1 on Your Phone to
• Ask a Question
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Slide 25
An Ounce of Prevention......
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Slide 26
Common Causes of Column Performance Degradation
• Physical damage to the polyimide coating
• Thermal damage
• Oxidation (O2 damage)
• Chemical damage by samples
• Contamination
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Slide 27
Physical Damage to The Polyimide Coating
• Bending radius decreases with increasing tubing diameter
• Avoid scratches and abrasions
• Immediate breakage does not always occur upon physical damage
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Slide 28
Thermal Damage
Degradation of the stationary phase is increased at higher temperatures. Breakage along the polymer backbone.
Dimethylpolysiloxane
CH3 CH3CH3
CH3 CH3CH3
O
Si SiSi
OOO
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Slide 29
Thermal DamageWhat To Do If It Happens
• Disconnect column from detector
• “Bake out” overnight at isothermal limit
• Remove 10-15 cm from column end
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Slide 30
Thermal Damage
Rapid degradation of the stationary phase caused by excessively high temperatures
Isothermal limit = Indefinite time
Programmed limit = 5-10 minutes
Temporary "column failure" below lower temperature limit
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Slide 31
Oxidation (O2 Damage)Oxygen in the carrier gas rapidly degrades the stationary phase. The damage is accelerated at higher temperatures. Damage along the polymer backbone is irreversible.
Dimethylpolysiloxane
CH3 CH3CH3
CH3 CH3CH3
O
Si SiSi
OOO
O2
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Slide 32
Oxygen DamageWhat To Do If It Happens
• Rapid damage to the column
• Usually results in irreversible column damage
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Slide 33
How to Prevent Column Damage by Oxygen
High quality carrier gas (4 nine's or greater)
Leak free injector and carrier linesChange septaMaintain gas regulator fittings
Appropriate impurity traps
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Slide 34
Configurations for Carrier Gas Purifiers
IndicatingMoisture Trap
High CapacityOxygen Trap
Indicating Oxygen Trap
OVEN TEMP 100
GC
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Slide 35
OVEN TEMP 100
Configurations for Carrier Gas Purifiers
IndicatingMoisture Trap
High CapacityOxygen Trap
Indicating Oxygen Trap
GC
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Slide 36
Chemical DamageBonded and cross-linked columns have excellent chemical resistance except for inorganic acids and bases
Chemical damage will be evident by excessive bleed, lack of inertness or loss of resolution/retentionlack of inertness or loss of resolution/retention
HCl NH3 KOH NaOH
H2SO4 H3PO4 HF etc.
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Slide 37
Chemical DamageWhat To Do If It Happens
• Remove 1/2 - 1 meter from the front of the columns
• Severe cases may require removal of up to 5 meters
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Slide 38
What is Normal Column Bleed
Normal background signal generated by the elution of normal degradation products of the column stationary phase
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Slide 39
06000
7000
8000
9000
1.0e4
1.1e4
1.2e4
1.3e4
5 10 15 20 25Time (min.)
24 pA / 260°CDB-624 30M x .53mm I.D., 3.0µm
12 pA / 320°CDB-1 30m x .32mm I.D., .25µm
Column Bleed is Influenced by:
Phase type
Temperature
Column dimensions
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Slide 40
Mass Spectrum of PhenylmethylpolysiloxaneColumn Bleed (Normal Background)
Mass spectral library search is not always accurate
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Slide 41
What is a Bleed Problem?
An abnormal elevated baseline at high temperature
IT IS NOT
A high baseline at low temperature
Wandering or drifting baseline at any temperature
Discrete peaks
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Slide 42
Break Number 2
• For Questions and Answers
• Press *1 on Your Phone to
• Ask a Question
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Slide 43
Column Contamination
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Slide 44
Contamination
• Fouling of GC and column by contaminants
• Mimics nearly every chromatographic problems
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Slide 45
Symptoms of Contamination
• Poor peak shape
• Loss of separation (resolution)
• Changes in retention
• Reduced peak size
• Baseline disturbances (semi-volatiles only)
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Slide 46
Typical Samples That Contain a Large Amount of Residues
Biological (Blood, Urine, Tissue, Plants)
Soils Foods
Waste Water Sludges
All samples contain residues!!
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Slide 47
Other Sources of Contamination
• Septum and ferrule particles
• Gas and trap impurities
• Unknown sources (vials, syringes,etc.)
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Slide 48
Non-Volatile Residues
Any portion of the sample that does not elute from the column or remains in the injector.
SEMI-VOLATILE RESIDUES
Any portion of the sample that elutes from the column after the current chromatographic run.
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Slide 49
Methods to Minimize Non-Volatile Residue Problems
Sample cleanup
Packed injection port liners
Guard columns
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Slide 50
Guard Column
The guard column is 0.5 - 10 meters of deactivated fused silica tubing with the same diameter as the analytical column. It is connected with a zero dead volume union.
INJECTOR DETECTOR
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Slide 51
Non-Volatile ContaminationWhat To Do If It Happens
• Do not “bake out” the column
• Front End Maintenance
• clean or change the injector liner
• clean the injector
• cut off 1/2 -1 meter of the front of the column
• Turn the column around
• Solvent rinse the column
• Cut the column in half
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Slide 52
Rinse Kit
1/16" flexible PTFE line to regulated pressure source
Beaker for solvent collection
Capillary column
Special connectorand ferrule
Flexible PTFEtubing
Special adapter
CapVial
Capillary column
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Slide 53
Semi-Volatile ContaminationWhat To Do If It Happens
• “bake out” the column
- Limit to 1-2 hours
- May polymerize some contamination
- Reduces column life
• Solvent rinse the column
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Slide 54
Column Storage
• Place septa over the ends
• Return to column box
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Slide 55
Always Remember to:
• Start with a good installation
• Maintain an oxygen free system
• Avoid physical, thermal, and chemical damage
• Take steps to prevent contamination
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Slide 56
J&W Scientific Technical Support
800-227-9770 (phone: US & Canada)*
302-993-5304 (phone)*
* Select option 4, then option 1.
916-608-1964 (fax)
www.agilent.com/chem
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Slide 57
Final Wrap-up e-Seminar QuestionsReference Information
For your reference, the following products described during thise-Seminar are available from Agilent Technologies. Visit our web site at www.agilent.com/chem or contact your local sales office.
• Column Cutter 5183-4620
• Flow Tracker 2000 5183-4780
• Electronic Leak Detector 5182-9646
• Rinse Kit 9301-0982
• Gas Purification Systems Multiple Options
• Gas Purifiers Multiple Options