CAN I QUANTIFY FORMIC ACID BY GC ?

[dhruvil]

Hi, all
this is dhruvil.
i have a small query for u.

Can i quantify formic acid by GC using FID as detector ?
if yes then which column should i make use of ?
may i make use of FFAP or SPB-1000 ? Will formic acid respond ?

Pls suggest me the possible ideas ? its bit urgent ?
ok then hoping for the favourable reply from everybody ..

thx.
regards
Dhruvil

[chromatographer1]

Fid response for formic acid is very low and is generally useless.

Use a TCD detector if GC is your only option.

HPLC is a better technique to measure formic acid.

best wishes,

Rod

[Consumer Products Guy]

We use HPLC, like an anion exclusion column with acid mobile phase, conductivity detection.

[chromatographer1]

Sorry I forgot, you may use a SPB-1000 capillary column but I would suggest you make certain you are able to keep the pH at a proper level to avoid 'salting out' the formic acid.

Also remember that acetic acid elutes BEFORE formic acid on a free acid phase (FFAP or SPB-1000) and to use a TCD not a FID.

best wishes,

Rod

[dhruvil]

thank u all out there
thank u rod
i ll surely work on yr suggestion of using sp-1000 and will let u know about that ok

ok then cu soon and hopefully with possitive results

thx
regards
Dhruvil

[WK]

Dhruvil
Can you not derivatise the formic acid with a methylating reagent and then analyse by GC?
WK

[dhruvil]

hi, dear (WK)
ya i can derivatise it with some methylating agent like i can convert it into an ester by 3 or 4 carbon alcohol but the problem is i dont know the conversion ratio of the reagent ( i doubt weather the formic acid will be quantitatively converted into an ester or not ) isn't it ? And the other problem which i think more serious will be using this methods of converting formic acid in corresping ester will be good for standard solution containing fixed ppm concentration of formic acid (like for standard solutions one can calculate the equivalent quantity of derivatising agent that will be required ) but for samples we dont know the quantity of formic acid present in it. i think that will not be suitable method for series of analyses, specially at the time of validation that may create problem.. thats whay i feel !!!

eventhough if u can suggest some reagent or if u know some ruggedd method by which this doubts won't interfere in my analysis than u please suggest me those

ok
then cu soon and take care.
bye

regards
Dhruvil