TCD Analysis of ppm levels of ammonia

[bgrasmeder]

I need to analyze a 500ppm ammonia in nitrogen balance gas. I saw that Restek makes a column for doing such an analysis (RTX Volitile ammine column) but I don't have the time to wait for the column to come in. I also saw that a packed column with a mix of PEG and NaOH or KOH may work, but again, that seems like a custom column and I don't have the time. We had some information that a PLOT column may work, but we experienced extreme tailing and any effort to sharpen the peak moved it too close to the nitrogen peak. Any other thoughts on how to do this analysis?

[chromatographer1]

Try a porous polymer packed column if you have any.

Or try any carbon based support packed column.

Use largest injection volume you can.

Stay away from all silicone based phases and polymers.

best wishes,

Rod

[bgrasmeder]

Thanks Rod. We have some pourous polymer columns and have a bunch of carboblack columns. Certainly worth a try.

[AICMM]

Try Chrom 103. Ammonia is pretty sticky on this column and may elute late enough from the nitrogen to get good quantitation.

Best regards,

AICMM

[chromatographer1]

Chromosorb 103 and Hayesep B are better for ammonia than most of the other polymers.

Rod

[bgrasmeder]

That's great stuff. I really appreciate the responses. We wound up doing the analysis on FTIR - couldn't wait to develop methods on the GC. But this will help in the future and give us flexibility for future analyses. Thank you again!

Bob.