extra peak on bottom-front of standard

Discussions about GC and other "gas phase" separation techniques.

8 posts Page 1 of 1
Hello,

Here is my method:

isobutyl alcohol, bp=108C

Headspace:
oven loop transfer: 90C 105C 110C
vial eq time: 30min
pressure time: 0.20min
pressure eq time: 0.10min
loop fill time: 0.10min
loop eq time: 0.10min
inject time: 1.0min

Inlet:
5:1 split
temp: 140C

temp gradient: 40C to 240C

Col dimensions: 30m length, 320um dia, 1.8um thickness of film
Flow: 1.5 ml/min

Issue:

I am observing a little peak eluting before the standard peak at the base. This standard is USP and claims to be pure. So I think it's an instrument issue.

What could cause a false little peak like this to show up?

https://ibb.co/jgN3qc

<a href="https://ibb.co/jgN3qc"><img src="https://thumb.ibb.co/jgN3qc/2018_02_07_extra_peak.png" alt="2018_02_07_extra_peak" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/jgN3qc"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dHJbAc/2018_02_07_extra_peak.png" alt="2018_02_07_extra_peak" border="0"></a><br /><a target='_blank' href='https://imgbb.com/'>free picture hosting site</a><br />
MestizoJoe
Analytical Chemist and Adventurer
Venture Industries
Spider-Skull Island
Hi Joe

That's a teeny little peak compared to your butanol, and I suspect that if you integrate the two peaks you will find that it is well within the specs for USP purity.

Peter
Peter Apps
What size is your loop?
You could increase your loop fill time, and decrease the inject time ( by maybe half).
If I remember sample loop head space techniques, you only need 3-5 loop volumes for the injection time.
Hi Peter, the area percent of the little peak is 1%.

Bigbear, the sample loop is 1.0 mL.

It seems like either the standard is not pure (degrading?) or about 1% of standard reaches the detector before the majority of sample (but how?).

Thanks,
MestizoJoe
Analytical Chemist and Adventurer
Venture Industries
Spider-Skull Island
I would have my suspicions of n-butyl alcohol in the iso-butyl alcohol standard. They are similar chemically.
Lookup on the internet both of the boiling points of these chemicals and devise a temperature gradient ramp that can 'tease' them apart.
MestizoJoe wrote:
Hi Peter, the area percent of the little peak is 1%.

Bigbear, the sample loop is 1.0 mL.

It seems like either the standard is not pure (degrading?) or about 1% of standard reaches the detector before the majority of sample (but how?).

Thanks,

Hi Joe

What is the actual purity spec in terms of mass fraction ?, I had a quick look on the net and couldn't find anything.

How does the blank look ? Maybe the extra peak is coming from elsewhere.

What is you temperature programme rate ? - if you go from 40 to 240 in the run time of the chromatogram any peak splitting at the inlet would have been focussed away before anything starts moving down the column.

A long shot; check that the column is not touching the oven wall anywhere.

Peter
Peter Apps
It could also be from a pressure pulse when the valve switches. If so, cold trapping on the head of the column during injection then starting the ramp may help.
The past is there to guide us into the future, not to dwell in.
8 posts Page 1 of 1

Who is online

In total there is 1 user online :: 0 registered, 0 hidden and 1 guest (based on users active over the past 5 minutes)
Most users ever online was 1117 on Mon Jan 31, 2022 2:50 pm

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

Latest Blog Posts from Separation Science

Separation Science offers free learning from the experts covering methods, applications, webinars, eSeminars, videos, tutorials for users of liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, sample preparation and related analytical techniques.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter with daily, weekly or monthly updates: Food & Beverage, Environmental, (Bio)Pharmaceutical, Bioclinical, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Liquid Chromatography

Gas Chromatography

Mass Spectrometry