Splitting of Hydrogen peak in GC TCD analysis!!!!!!!

[jayasreekk]

Hi,

I observed a splitting of hydrogen peak during a GC TCD analysis.The other peaks observed were for air ans carbon dioxide and were sharp continuous peaks. I am using a capillary column for GC and He is the carrier gas. Can someone reason out the cause for this split? Thanks

Jayasree

[Johnny Rod]

Which column are you using? I presume the hydrogen is at a high concentration, so you can see it?

[chromatographer1]

You are probably in the proper concentration for the infamous 'W' peak shape for hydrogen when using helium as a carrier. If your detector polarity is reversed it becomes a 'M' peak.

Change your carrier to nitrogen and see if the peak suddenly becomes one peak, and manifold times larger!

best wishes,

Rod