Chromatography Forum

Hi all,

I am looking to purchase a GC system to analyze a sample of Syngas which I expect to be composed of mostly H2, CO, and CH4. It may also have H2O and CO2. I have zero experience with GC and would like any input you have about the system. Budget is, as always, a huge issue and is why I’m looking into older GC equipment.

For the GC I will purchase an HP 5890 II SSI. For the column I’ve chosen a Restek ShinCarbon ST Micropacked. I considered the Supelco Carboxen 1010 PLOT column but they are much more expensive and it looked as if the Restek column would suffice. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Because I need to detect H2 I’m looking to use a TCD with argon as a carrier. Would it be better to use an HID or TCD+FID instead of the single TCD?

Currently the gas flows out of a short pipe. To actually take the sample I’ve looked into a 6 port valve with a manual actuator but this adds considerably to the cost. I have seen youtube videos explaining how to take header samples and was wondering if I could simply draw a sample into the syringe from the gas stream and inject it myself?

Data acquisition will be accomplished via Chemstation. I haven’t found a less expensive alternative other than a very old HP integrator which might be more trouble than it’s worth.

Thanks for any and all input.

look up the microGC from Agilent. The RGA "Refinary Gas analyzer." I think you can adapt what you need it very easy to use. We use it to analyze all our syngas.



http://www.chem.agilent.com/en-us/produ ... fault.aspx

and no I do not work for agilent, I just have decent luck with the instruments.

The micro GC Agilent sells is a good unit, I used it back before Agilent bought MTI, the company that developed it. There was one negative, the injector, column, and detector are all one unit, and if the column went bad the unit had to be shipped back for service and replacement of the entire module.

One thing to consider is that Agilent has agreed to sell the micro GC product to another company as part of an EU anti-trust agreement relating to the Varian purchase.

hwright,

As with many others who are trying to use TCD to measure H2, I would suggest going with HID (at the risk of sounding like a broken record.) As with Opfer, I would be happy to provide more information on this if you want to contact me at aicmm at flash.net.

Regarding the balance of your set-up, I have a customer who has a very similar set up for pyrolysis syngas using a sort of chaff. Has an HID and an FID to measure fixed gases on the HID and hydrocarbons on the FID. Dual micro-packed column, single valve, split right after the valve.

Therefore, I would heartily recommend the Series II and the Shincarbon. I would say you will have to deal with water which comes off late as an ugly blob but you can temperature program without too much difficulty. I would strongly suggest a 6 port gas sampling valve (which can be found relatively inexpensively, especially manual) over trying to use a syringe. I would also suggest you look at PeakSimple or PCChrom if the Chemstation software is too expensive.

Best regards.

I'd go with the 5890 instead of the micro if you need any flexibility for future analysis. You can do a lot with this GC, such as adding valves etc. The micros are good, but when they fail, you can't do much other than replace entire modules. I've done a lot of gas samples manually, but you're really better off with a 6 port valve. Manual will work, actuated is better but more expensive.

With the merger/purchase between Agilent and Varian there has been a condition set by the authorities that some of the business areas have to be divested. I think that the Agilent micro GC is part of this divestment.

GCguy

No shortage of published methods, systems to buy for RGA
RGA
Beware of trying to do this too much on the cheap, for reproducability buy a valve. Don't buy a GC because you think it is the "right" make get the right configuration from a supplier you can trust

Hi all,

I looked into the C2V-200 Micro GC but they were considerably more expensive. The varian micro GC on Labx.com was also out of my price range. Also as larkl said I think the versatility 5890 will be useful in a later stage of this project and others.

I found an HP 5890 II with TCD, FID and Integrator for under $2,000 but the communications board is a Non-buffered INET Interface Board: 19242-60010 rev.B. I think we can use the integrator for the time being and continue looking for a parts instrument that had a newer HPIB card. Do you guys have any experience with replacing the comm. board? I saw this post from a number of years ago where Consumer Products Guy alphaomegatech’s comm. upgrade kit which is a possibility but a parts unit would be cheaper.

AICMM I have sent you an email regarding HID. I really appreciate everybody’s help and suggestions!