Deactivated GC Parts What, How, & Why

[5.3ctwptr]

When I buy GC parts some of the products say they are deactivated. What does this mean?
Years ago I was able to purchase a liquid. It was a silanizing product. I would dip my glass sleeves for my injector port into a container filled with the liquid, remove it from the liquid bath and alow it to dry. Place it in my injector port and would typically generate good chromatography. I was instructed by the more senior chemists to do this and I don't know why.

So after changing jobs and years later the glass inserts come deactivated and there is no need for the silanization product, but what was it? Is it still available? Does anyone know the source? How is it used today?

Many Thanks to all

5.3ctwptr

[Don_Hilton]

The surface of glass is covered with hydroxyl groups. These are reactive (chemically active) and when reacted with a compound such as chlrotrimethylmethyl silane, become less reactive (deactivated).The reactivity of the glass can cause analytes to be partially retained in the inlet - resulting in tailing or loss of response.

When you purchase deactivated liners, the surface has been reacted with a a compoiund, wuch as one of the Chloromethylsilanes. You only need to install the new liner in the GC inlet.

If you look around this site, you will see discussions of deactivation of inlet liners - the chemicals for doing this are still available. And some people still deactivate their own inlet lines and other parts.

[5.3ctwptr]

Ok Don, I will look around
Thanks!