Chromatography Forum

hello all,

I am not sure if this forum is appropriate for ECD questions but I will give it a try.
I regularly run a GCMS (Thermo ISQ/Trace 1310) and now have a ECD module that I am going to start to use to dectect DBP's.
I have never used an ECD so I am wondering if I can get any advice on where to start. I have a column and all the necessary components as well as method etc..
I assume I need to bake out the column to start off.
Any other advice?

Thanks

I don't mean to sound harsh, but the place to start is the manual for your instrument.

Manual gives you column insertion depth(typically very important), column dimensions dictate column flow rate (and make-up or not), you must use either p5 or p10 or nitrogen make-up since just light carrier won't work, concentration dependent detector so better sensitivity at lower flows as long as peak shape does not suffer, can be a temperature dependent detector depending on detection mechanism so hotter is not always better......

More data provided yields more concise answers I'm afraid.

Best regards,

AICMM

Also, if Thermo has an application note that is close to your application it will have suggested conditions. This can save you a lot of time.

Thanks everyone.
yes, the manual is an excellent way to start off, thanks, I have been looking at it.
I just wanted to get a general idea of EDC world compared to MS world, but I think I am making good progress.
Thanks again!

Anamari

Bits of advice from my experience. The ECD is very sensitive and contamination prevention is very important. Avoid any contact with plastics in sample preparation. Be sure to use and maintain an oxygen trap for your carrier gas. Traces of oxygen will cause column bleed which will show up as baseline rise during temperature gradient runs.