Chromatography Forum

Dear All,

To be fair: I am a distributor asking for a solution for my customer. He is from a refinery and has to analyze gas samples with 12% mol of water by GC or GCMS. Any advice about how to remove water from samples?

Is the customer analyzing a process gas stream, or static samples.

Gas samples that contain water usually separate water using multidimensional chromatography.

Otherwise you can reduce the temperature of the gas sample and dew out (frost out) most of the water.

Why isn't the refinery using a vendor who supplies multidimensional chromatography.

Rod

Dear Rod,

Samples are static, taken from process and stored in steel bottles of 1L volume. Should you have any other question, I'll provide an answer.
Can you direct me to any vendor offering multidimensional chromatography equipment, please?
Thank you very much for qour answer.

Blaza

Blaza,

My customers use Drierite on their gas samples (depending on the stream.) They pack dessicant tubes with the Drierite and put that tube between the sample and the GC inlet. You can also help yourself quite a bit and sample from the correct side of the sample bomb, counting on the water to (possibly) fall out to the bottom of the bomb and sampling from the top. Doesn't always work but a good first step. If you need more info, drop me a note and I can provide more info (aicmm at flash dot net)

Best regards,

AICMM

Process Analytics - Siemens Process analyzers

ABB Process Analyzers

AMETEK Process Instruments

Too many to list. You may visit PE and Agilent web sites for third party companies who design and implement multidimensional applications.

best wishes,

Rod

Dear AICMM,

Drierite looks like an quick and easy solution, thank you! I have put the same question to their web page and expecting now their answer.


Rod,

If Drierite couldn't help, I will direct the customer to mentioned manufacturers - it would be the next step. Thanks a lot for your time and good will to help!

Best regards,
Blaza

Be aware that certain gases can be lost when passed through Drierite, and the trap should be purged thoroughly with your carrier gas before the sample is passed through it.

best wishes,

Rod.

I'd use a stripper column with a short length of boiling point column. You'd need to add a 6 port valve to the instrument inside the column oven and a second flow controller. The short length of column is in the flow path and the "lights" will pass onto the analytical column, then actuate the valve and let the water backflush from the stripper column.

We use it all the time.

Multidimensional chromatography can make so many difficult problems simple.

I am glad to see some take advantage of it.

Rod

You might try this site

http://www.permapure.com/products/dryer ... e&prod=449

I have never personally used this, but it looks interesting.

Gasman