Chromatography Forum

Hi everybody,
I would like to know the best column to separate Hydrogen(H2) from Deuterium(2H or D)?
I would prefer to use packed column.
thanks for your help

Off the top of my head, something like a PLOT column sould be a good way to go. A link to some information from Supelco is: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/etc/mediali ... 403146.pdf And a phone call to the tech support of your favorite column vendor may be of help.

My recollection is that activated alumina packed columns were typically used for separation of hydrogen isotopes. Examples used to be in old catalogues from packed column suppliers ( 1970s -1980s )

There are also alumina plot columns available, but I would start with a packed column. There should be plenty of literature from the 1960s and 1970s when many such isotope studies were performed.

Alumina chromatography behaviour is categorised by Brockmann activity ( mainly a function of residual water, IIRC ), so it would be very good idea to perform a literature search for the specific details of column preparation for the analysis.

Later Edit - An alternative technique is to use cryogenic conditions ( if your Gc supports them ), eg Molecular Sieve columns at liquid nitrogen temperatures. In my experience, cyrogenic conditions tend to be much more noisy ( both baseline and audio ).

A quick Google search " Gas chromatography hydrogen isotopes " found plenty of relevant literature on separation techniques.

Please keep having fun,

Bruce Hamilton

Thanks Bruce for the very good answer!!
Let me know if you can find some chromatograms showing separation of H2 isotopes.
It would be appreciate.
On my side I will check on google with the description you gave me.

gagne.dany@yahoo.ca