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GC-ECD Detector

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:13 am
by jijualex
Can anybody please clear doubt about the make up gas usage in GC- ECD detector. Can i use Helium as Carrier and Make up gas? i dont want to use Nitrogen as make up gas. Any other combination of Carrier and makeup gases?

Re: GC-ECD Detector

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:55 am
by dblux_
Can anybody please clear doubt about the make up gas usage in GC- ECD detector. Can i use Helium as Carrier and Make up gas? i dont want to use Nitrogen as make up gas. Any other combination of Carrier and makeup gases?
Yes you may use He as makeup gas. But why not nitrogen, it's much cheaper.

Re: GC-ECD Detector

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 5:49 pm
by sry
ECD works based on ionization of a proper gas by beta emission of Ni-63 radiactive element. Helium could not be ionized by this radaition and so no ions are produced. Nitrogen or argon/methan mixture could be readily ionized in ECD detecctors and usually are used as make-up gas in capillary columns selection.

Re: GC-ECD Detector

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 4:15 pm
by thohry
Carrier gas can be N2 or He, but makeup gas must be N2 (or mix of CH4 and Ar). ECD needs electrons and those gas can be ionized by radiation of 63 Ni can be use as ECD make up.

Re: GC-ECD Detector

Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 7:56 pm
by Stunt
I've been using argon/methane (P5) mixture for 20 + years. Go with that. The nitrogen is cheaper, but less effective.

Re: GC-ECD Detector

Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 12:57 pm
by CE Instruments
I've been using argon/methane (P5) mixture for 20 + years. Go with that. The nitrogen is cheaper, but less effective.
Whose detector ? From my experience with the Carlo Erba/Thermo detector Nitrogen was often better due to a higher background noise with Ar/ME