Chromatography Forum

Dear all,
I wish to know if i can get any standard hydrocarbon liquid for gc calibration? Am using Agilent 7890 model. I need a calibration standard for the equipment, which will basically take care of retention time of different hydrocarbon compounds.

Thanks while i look forward to your response.

Bee

Hydrocarbon standards are commonly available through the suppliers of GC consumables or vendors of standards. Depending on what you need, you can find these for environmental analysis, for petroleum analysis, and I suppose for other applications. If you do not have a list of favorite suppliers, I would suggest looking at the web site for a scientific conference related to the type of analytical work you wish to do, check trade magazines, or check the web site for a major supplier conference like Pittcon.org.

Of course, if you are just looking for normal paraffin’s for retention time markers, a bit of paraffin wax (available at a grocery or hardware store) in a bit of hexane works just fine (and is inexpensive).

There are many vendors who will sell you small amounts of 99% pure hydrocarbons. Make your own stds dissolved in pentane or hexane for example. Odd and even hydrocarbons are available from C4 to C28. Most from C4 to C22 are fairly inexpensive. There may be pre-made mixes available also. 500mL (or smaller) bottles are easily stored in a lab refrigerator.

Rod

Try Accurate Gas products in Lafayette, Louisiana. I get my standards from them and they do a great job.

Thanks Roy, Don and Tarlorb. I quite appreciate your prompt response.
I stay in West Africa- Nigeria and over here we don’t have grocery stores or vendors we can pick from and prepare by ourselves. I guess I will fall back on trying to get already prepared ones.
I have e-mailed Accustandard of US and they have asked me for my formulation.

Many thanks.