headspace sampler are essential because they help in providing a clean gas stream, that may guarantee the quality of the gas chromatographic analysis and the reliability of the outcomes. Further, such gas purifiers minimize detector noise and prolong the life of the column. Gas purifiers are like plans to protect the instrumentation and other analytical columns from several types of contaminants. Still, the gas purifiers will not be in a position to convert low purity gases into high purity gases. Because of this important factor, it’s important to select the proper grade of gases with different purity levels for proper used in gas chromatographic applications.

Selection of Right Gas Purifier to Suit Your Applications

Numerous kinds of gas purifiers can be purchased in the market. While some gas purifiers remove just one specific contaminant, other styles remove multiple contaminants simultaneously from the gas stream. You have to think about several factors during the selection procedure for gas purifiers, considering your unique applications. These factors will include the potential contaminants present in the gas stream, the limitations on flow and pressure, degrees of gas purity required, desired convenience in replacement of spent gas traps, and space availability.

Common Traps Found in Gas Purifiers

Oxygen, hydrocarbon, skin tightening and, and moisture traps will be the most common purifiers found in most the gas chromatography (GC) applications. Oxygen traps are normally packed with metal catalysts. Oxygen is considered as probably the most detrimental contaminating gas in all analytical columns. Oxygen is with the capacity of producing irreversible oxidation damage, especially to polar stationary phases. Hydrocarbon traps are usually filled with activated charcoal, which can absorb organic compounds that are bigger than methane. Still, the molecular weight and size of the organic contaminants will have a definite effect on the capacity of the hydrocarbon trap to a great extent but it may also think about trap efficiency to some extent.

Activated charcoal possesses an increased capacity to trap larger hydrocarbons that are greater than C4, in comparison to smaller hydrocarbons, which are lesser than C4. Moisture traps are usually packed with unique molecular sieves. When subjected to extensive heating, the crystalline structures are forced to reduce their hydration or water content. This opens a cavity which gets filled readily with any compound that may fit the cavity. Water fits perfectly into this cavity but this trap will also be able to remove gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and chlorine or other gases that have effective diameters lesser than water.

Procedure for Contaminants Affecting Gas Stream

If you wish to understand how the contaminants affect the gas stream, you have to follow the road that the carrier gas takes to get into the gas chromatograph. This path does apply for detector fuel gases also. The gases begin from a gas tank or perhaps a special gas generator. The gas travels through long lengths of tubes, pressure gauges, valves, and various other fittings. Every one of these areas is a potential culprit to introduce contaminants in to the gas stream. This leads not merely in degrading the results of chromatography but additionally shortens the life span of the column of CG.

Major contaminants like oxygen, hydrocarbons, and moisture can handle wreaking havoc with the columns and detectors of CG. The packed and capillary columns can get degraded easily when they face oxygen or moisture, especially at high temperatures. These contaminants may also compromise detector performance. Since the detectors actually ‘see’ these contaminants, the effect is baseline noises, spikes, and drifts.

You should install gas purifiers in a vertical position as wall mounted types to avoid channeling. Channeling occurs when you install the gas purifier in a horizontal position. Gas purifiers are available as compact panels having multiple purifiers or single panel which has multi-absorbent capabilities.